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year there were at least 25 times when a "command suit" was needed to manage "serious incidents". Incidents included prisoners balancing on railings, building barricades, groups of prisoners engaged in "concerted indiscipline" and apparent hostage situations. The board maintained it observed some incidents and was, "impressed by the efficient, calm and humane way in which the incidents were managed". Use of psychoactive substances was "worryingly high" and was one cause of violence. Low staffing levels made it difficult to manage prisoners and, "the proportion of inexperienced staff contributed to challenging atmospheres on some wings". The report said, "Staffing was seldom at the agreed level during the year". The
Monitoring Board was also concerned over how many prisoners with mental health problems were in segregation for long time periods and raised concerns over how many prisoners preferred to stay in their cells during the day. The building where most healthcare took place was unfit for the purpose.
212:, the company that previously ran the prison, denied the allegations. Violence has been rising at Lowdham Grange assaults have risen yearly since 2009. There were 318 assaults in 2017 and 237 in 2016, the 2017 number was over twice the number of assaults in 2014. Roughly two thirds of assaults were prisoners assaulting other prisoners, one third involved prisoners assaulting staff. There were 162 cases of self-harm in the first three months of 2018, there were 402 self-harm cases in 2017 and 288 in 2016. Two prisoners died in 2017, and one died up to August in 2018. Serco refused to tell the BBC how many prison officers were based at Lowdam Grange. The most recent inspection, in 2015 decided staff use of force "was very high" and not invariably "fully justified or warranted".
220:"use of force was very high", inspectors were not convinced it "was always fully justified or warranted and not all incidents were de-escalated as quickly as they might have been". Self-harm had risen and was higher than in similar prisons, there were, "unacceptable waiting times to see health professionals". Prisoners had "little confidence in the complaints system" and there were more complaints than in similar prisons. Inspectors found cases of complaints that were not properly investigated or answered.
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found, "levels of violence between prisoners and, on occasions towards staff were of concern". It said, "Injuries sustained by prisoners were sometimes quite serious and required hospital treatment. Assaults on staff were rarer but still occurred and sometimes required hospital treatment". During the
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found violence against staff and prisoners had increased since a 2011 inspection and was much higher than in comparable establishments. The prison had become less safe, there was too much violence against staff and against other prisoners and too much of it was serious. The inspection also concluded
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said, "This has been a long hot summer, and it sounds like
Lowdham Grange has problems. Perhaps it is time for the inspectorate to conduct an inspection, as only one report has been published on the prison in the last seven years. This illustrates how prisons can deteriorate very quickly. They also
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carried out an inspection of
Lowdham Grange in March 2004 and reported that though the prison was well managed, "100 prisoners on average were not busy enough" in employment or education. Low staffing levels were also identified as a problem at the jail, though inspectors stated that the prison did
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The Chief
Inspector of Prisons carried out an unannounced inspection of Lowdham Grange in 2008. The Inspectorate noted that the prison had much improved, and was well managed. However, the prison was also told to do more to improve work opportunities for inmates, improve resettlement services for
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which closed in 1982, Lowdham Grange Prison was opened as a privately financed, constructed and managed prison in 1998. Soon after the jail opened, it emerged that one of
Lowdham Grange's new prisoner custody officers had previously been employed as a security guard for the gangster
157:
In May 2008, it was announced that the
Lowdham Grange Prison was to be expanded by more than a third. The £52 million project, expected to be completed by 2010, would create 260 more cells, a two-storey activities building, as well as expanding and refurbishing existing buildings.
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would take over the running of the prison for an interim period to improve safety and security at the prison. The prison would be stabilised by the deployment of a new
Governor and experienced public sector managers and prison officers. This followed an unannounced inspection by
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in the summer of 2023 which found the prison to be unsafe and failing to rehabilitate offenders. HM Prison and
Probation Service had been providing additional staffing to Lowdham Grange since 10 December 2023 due to significant staffing issues and a severely impacted regime.
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Lowdham Grange is a
Category B closed training prison for adult males serving both determinate and non-determinate sentences (IPP). Accommodation at the prison consists mainly of single occupancy cells, with some double cells. Some cells have en-suite shower facilities.
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There is a
Visitor Centre outside the main gate at Lowdham Grange. There are limited refreshment facilities available in the Visits Hall inside the prison. Both the Visitor Centre and Visits Hall have full access for disabled visitors.
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reported an increase in violent behaviour amongst inmates. There was also an increase in drugs found at the prison. However, the Board claimed that Lowdham Grange was "doing better overall than the Prison Service strictly requires".
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There have been allegations that prison officers committed serious assaults against prisoners, including throwing a handcuffed prisoner downstairs.
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In August 2022, it was announced that following competitive tendering, from 16 February 2023, the prison would be operated by
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show how important it is for prisons to have robust and imaginative management and careful oversight of staff".
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In June 2006, a prisoner serving 10 years for burglary escaped from Lowdham Grange by hiding in a shipment of
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prisoners leaving custody, and set up an accredited drug treatment programme for inmates.
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praised the prison as one of seven prisons providing exceptionally good value. However,
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The prison offers workshops, education and training for inmates in areas such as
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In September 2009, Lowdham Grange Prison was awarded Level Four status by the
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On 1 August 2024, operations transferred fully to HM Prison Service.
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123:. The officer subsequently resigned from his post at the prison.
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536:"Ministry of Justice takes over running of HMP Lowdham Grange"
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510:"HMP Lowdham Grange management changes hands in £264m deal"
484:"Facilities management giant awarded £264m prison contract"
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462:"HMP Lowdham guards accused of assaulting prisoners"
150:, which are manufactured in the prison's workshop.
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197:. All work and training programmes can lead to
114:Built on the site of the former Lowdham Grange
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132:Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons
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818:Private prisons in the United Kingdom
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400:"Lowdham Grange Inspectorate Reports"
260:His Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons
163:National Offender Management Service
460:Fisher, Samantha (13 August 2018).
334:"Inmates are 'not employed enough'"
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432:"Prison to be expanded by a third"
378:"Prisoner flees in chef hat lorry"
201:qualifications in related fields.
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356:"Violence up at 'four star' jail"
284:"Kray man resigns as jail warder"
138:In August 2005, Lowdham Grange's
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255:HM Prison and Probation Service
135:have control of its prisoners.
813:1998 establishments in England
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236:Howard League for Penal Reform
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803:Category B prisons in England
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772:County Gaol, Nottinghamshire
312:"Praise for private prisons"
225:Independent Monitoring Board
94:, located in the village of
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808:Prisons in Nottinghamshire
405:HM Inspectorate of Prisons
165:for exceptional delivery.
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37:, Nottinghamshire, England
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358:. BBC News. 1 August 2005
249:On 18 December 2023, the
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380:. BBC News. 17 June 2006
336:. BBC News. 23 June 2004
314:. BBC News. 23 June 2004
84:HM Prison Lowdham Grange
53:Category B Male Training
828:Sodexo Justice Services
434:. BBC News. 28 May 2008
244:Sodexo Justice Services
217:HM Inspector of Prisons
215:The last inspection by
191:painting and decorating
128:National Audit Office
607:53.01500°N 1.04000°W
574:"HMP Lowdham Grange"
603: /
584:on 16 October 2011.
251:Ministry of Justice
69:16th February, 1998
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612:53.01500; -1.04000
516:. 14 February 2023
412:on 21 January 2009
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187:electronics
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121:Reggie Kray
45:Operational
797:Categories
777:Glen Parva
767:Derby Gaol
707:Nottingham
667:Five Wells
595:53°00′54″N
464:. BBC News
438:9 December
384:9 December
362:9 December
340:9 December
296:9 December
270:References
100:Nottingham
88:Category B
74:Managed by
687:Leicester
672:Fosse Way
598:1°02′24″W
468:2 October
416:3 January
318:3 January
148:chef hats
722:Rye Hill
520:15 March
494:15 March
289:BBC News
195:cleaning
183:plumbing
58:Capacity
31:Location
833:Lowdham
762:Ashwell
755:Defunct
737:Whatton
732:Sudbury
727:Stocken
692:Lincoln
682:Gartree
234:of the
116:Borstal
110:History
96:Lowdham
35:Lowdham
660:Active
540:GOV.UK
98:(near
90:men's
66:Opened
42:Status
717:Ranby
712:Onley
578:Serco
210:Serco
102:) in
86:is a
77:HMPPS
547:2023
522:2023
496:2023
470:2019
440:2008
418:2009
386:2008
364:2008
342:2008
320:2009
298:2008
223:The
199:NVQ
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