HMP Woodhill branded unsafe amid rising violence

A high security prison has been branded "not safe" after inspectors found some of the highest levels of violence, drug use and self-harm.

HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes has been placed under an urgent notification by HM Inspector of Prisons, the second in three years.

Inspectors found it had the highest rate of serious assaults on staff, general violence had increased, drug use was the highest of all adult male prisons and the prison was dirty.

The Ministry of Justice has described the findings as "deeply concerning".

Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor, said the category B prison, which houses about 800 men, was failing in its role as a training centre.

"Instead men are languishing in their cells and criminal behaviour is going unchecked by often inexperienced officers," he said, adding: "The dealing and use of drugs is rife and there are frightening levels of violence, including some very serious assaults on both prisoners and staff.

The inspectorate highlighted a range of serious failings.

It found rates of violence were the second highest of any category B training prison and had increased, and the rate of serious assaults on staff was the highest in the long-term high secure estate (LTHSE), with about a third involving weapons.

It found drugs were far too easily available and three deaths in the last two years were drug-related. In random drug tests, the positive rate over the past year was among the highest of all adult male prisons.

The report also concluded that:

• Rates of self-harm remained among the highest in the adult male estate
• Some officers were not competent or confident to enforce rules or engage constructively with prisoners
• The prison was dirty and in need of refurbishment
• Woodhill was "fundamentally failing in its core function" as a training prison, with an inadequate Ofsted rating and classes routinely cancelled leading to men spending more time in their cells

Despite most prisoners presenting a high risk of harm to others, offender management, interventions and work to reduce risk were inadequate, the report said.

Planning for releasing dangerous offenders was "inadequate and risked endangering the public", and men being released had only limited support.

Inspectors found delays in taking patients to A&E and acutely mentally unwell men waited on average 191 days to be transferred to a secure hospital, one of the longest delays the inspectorate had seen.

However, the inspectorate noted many prison staff were trying their best in "difficult circumstances".

Many prisoners also felt unsafe, it said.

A new governor was appointed six months ago and prioritised stabilising the prison but the issues at Woodhill were "serious" and "intractable", Taylor said.

He added: "I am in no doubt that the challenges the governor and his staff face will require sustained, significant support from the prison service if they are to succeed at this troubled jail."

Lord Timpson, minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, said the findings were "deeply concerning".

"The prison crisis we inherited has left too many jails breeding crime rather than preventing it — with consequences felt across the estate.

"We are tackling these challenges head on, including at HMP Woodhill where, as the Chief Inspector recognises, staff are already working tirelessly to improve safety, raise standards and reduce violence."

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