Prison boss cracks down on drugs being smuggled into Deerbolt YOI

DOGS sniffing parcels and photocopying letters has helped stem the flow of drugs into Deerbolt Young Offenders’ Institution, in Startforth.

A report by the prison’s independent monitoring board (IMB) found that the governor and staff acted decisively to check the flow of illegal substances into the jail, including letters lined with drugs.

Mail delivery was delayed as warders made copies of letters which were given to prisoners, and packages were tested by sniffer dogs.

The IMB noted some progress on issues that had caused concern in the previous year, such as arrangements for preparing prisoners for release and the provision of relevant education and training for them.

However, some areas of concern remain including high staff turnover, staff shortages and problems with contractors. Another problem was excessive force used by a staff member just before the monitoring period, which ran from September 2016 to September 2017.

The report said: “The trial has taken place at Teesside Crown Court of an officer who assaulted a prisoner at Deerbolt on August 1, 2016. He has received a suspended sentence and community service order. 

"At the time of the incident, a member of the board noted what she regarded as signs of the use of excessive force in the restraint of this prisoner. This observation was one factor leading to the prompt investigation of the incident by the governor and the ensuing suspension, now dismissal, of the officer primarily concerned.”

Issues with gang violence and bullying were noted as problems, but these have quelled.

A problem of prisoners self-harming has also been reduced.

The report said: “Instances of self-harm were recorded at an abnormal peak in December but the overall figures included several individual cases of repeated self-harm, in the case of one prisoner six times in one month. Since December there has been a significant reduction in self harm, with a percentage of less than three per cent each month since February.”

Positive action has been taken in the area of prisoner education, which has seen an improvement in prisoners’ numeracy and literacy.

The report added: “Overall, the board observes that a positive transformation has taken place over three years in the education and activities offered to prisoners. There has been a step change in prisoner involvement, and the ‘academy’ principle can be expected to instil life-changing improvements in general attitude and employability during a prisoner’s sentence.”

Overall the IMB found that prisoners were treated fairly and humanely, but over the long term prisoner wellbeing would suffer if staff numbers are not improved.

Carol Charlton, chairwoman of the board, said: ‘Our board at Deerbolt now embraces a wider range of age and experience and that can only help us fulfill our watching brief. Prison life is not an easy for anyone. We work to be sure that Deerbolt is a fair and humane place to be.”