Mobile phones found on inmates at Stoke Heath prison

Prisoners being transferred to the prison, near Market Drayton, are searched thoroughly and a total of 65 mobile phones were found ‘either about the person or in property’ between May 2017 and April 2018, according to a report by the independent monitoring board.

The board’s annual report said: “This is of particular concern as the sending prison has obviously not followed search procedure or ignored the indication and transferred anyway.

“Apart from Stoke Heath having to deal with the prisoner, this can increase the risk of escape whilst being transferred.

“Prisoners with mobile phones are located in segregation, downgraded to basic and reported to police.”

The report said the security team had been very pro-active in trying to reduce the amount of illicit items entering the prison, but that drugs and mobile phones were ‘significant problems’.

It continued: “However, additional funding from Payment Plus has enabled the team to do more cell searches, pin phone monitoring, stop and search, intelligence gathering and perimeter fence patrols which have all been very successful.

“Shortly a Rapi-Scan machine will be available to scan the mail for drugs and eliminate the need to photocopy mail. There has been a slight reduction in finds of weapons. Those found were made in manufacturing; searching is in place.”

The report also highlighted that prisoners were treated fairly and humanely. It said victims of bullying were supported and body-cameras were used appropriately.

Conditions in the segregation unit were described as ‘generally good’ and staffing levels were ‘adequate’. The report said several prisoners had been kept in segregation for more than a month, but this was because they refused to go back to their normal location despite the efforts of staff and governors.

It was also noted that drug and substance rehabilitation work is now housed in a larger wing of the prison with better facilities.

The report said that extra funding had been received to enhance the educational provision and vocational training was available.

However, concerns were raised about the loss of the National Careers Service that has ‘fragmented services and has had a detrimental impact on the provision of information, advice, and guidance’, the report said.

The Prison Act 1952 requires every prison to be monitored by an independent board appointed by the Secretary of State from members of the community in which the prison or centre is situated.