VISITORS are needed to go behind bars at the Young Offender Institution on Portland.

The Independent Board of Visitors (IMB) for the jail has appealed for more volunteers to its join its ranks after its numbers fell to 11.

Board chairman Sir Phillip Williams wants more people to sign up – especially younger volunteers from the Weymouth and Portland area.

He said: “Those that join the board would say that it actually is a very valuable form of public service.

“The board doesn’t try to run the prison better than the governor. A board that is working well and in general co-co-operation undoubtedly makes a prison a better place. Our relationship with the prison governor and management at Portland is very strong.”

He added that people would find the positions very fulfilling and that the pubic ought to know what goes on behind prison walls.

The IMB monitors the ‘just and humane treatment’ of prisoners in the YOI. IMB members pay regular visits to the jail but are also entitled to enter at almost any time unannounced. They can talk to and be approached by inmates and staff.

They can look into complaints and grievances, view paperwork, talk to inmates and raise issues of concern with the governor.

The Portland YOI IMB board also writes an annual report on life in the prison and the performance of the regime.

The current IMB board has four men and seven women members. The IMB board can have up to 17 members.

Mr Williams said: “Ideally we would like some younger members who live in Weymouth and Portland and are in their 30s and 40s.”

Anyone who is interested or wants more information is urged to write to The Independent Monitoring Board, HM Young Offender Institution, the Grove, Portland, DT5 1DL.