A ‘WORRYING’ rise in violence at the Portland Young Offender Institution (YOI) has been highlighted in a new inspection report.

The report for the island jail is a mixed one, highlighting a purposeful regime for prisoners but action needed to tackle the safety of inmates.

Reception areas are ‘stark’ and ‘dirty’, not all reports of bullying are followed up, some punishment is ‘inappropriate’, little progress has been made to address self-harm and suicide and there has been ‘insufficient’ progress on recommendations about discipline.

The report by the Chief Inspector of Prisons Nick Hardwick followed an unannounced short follow-up inspection of the prison, which has just under 500 inmates. As well as being a YOI, the jail now incorporates an adult category C training prison.

Its last full inspection in 2009 found an establishment that had changed its outlook and outcomes, with a focus on providing a positive and rehabilitative experience for prisoners. The latest visit found the prison continued to make progress against most of the ‘healthy tests’, but there has been slow progress on important safety recommendations.

The report said: “There had been some progress on our recommendations on violence reduction and bullying. The significant amount of data collated indicated high, and increasing, levels of violence, but analysis and action to address emerging trends and patterns were underdeveloped.”

Inspectors were also concerned to find that: 

  • Induction for young adults was only adequate and other induction arrangements were weak.
  • The segregation unit was little used but its environment and regime required improvement.
  • There had been limited progress on recommendations to address the problem of self-harm.

Inspectors were pleased to find that:

  • There was some good work in learning and skills, and unemployment was impressively low.
  • The quality of workshops leading to real work opportunities was good and progression opportunities in learning and skills were improving.
  •  The integrated drug treatment system (IDTS) had developed strongly and there was better access to drug support services.
  • The establishment was clean, Rodney and Hardy wings had been demolished and there had been good progress in health care.
  • The strategic management of resettlement and offender management continued to be effective.

Nick Hardwick said: “Developing services for its new adult population appears to be Portland’s new challenge. Although this is, overall, a mixed report, the provision of regime remains good and there is a meaningful focus on resettlement. The apparent complacency around ensuring safety, however, required attention.”

No-one from the prison was available to comment.

But Michael Spurr, Chief Executive Officer of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), said: “Portland has only recently changed function and as the chief inspector acknowledges has responded positively particularly in terms of activity provision and resettlement.

“There is no complacency about safety but the Governor and his staff will use the recommendations in the report to further improve performance.”