The venture will incorporate Army personnel from Catterick Garrison, prison officers and Deerbolt’s education provider Novus.
Details of the scheme were outlined to members of Barnard Castle Town Council last week in a letter from the prison. It states the aim of the academy is for inmates to “develop transferable skills around the values of loyalty, courage, selfless commitment, integrity, discipline and respect for others”.
Prisoners will work towards their Duke of Edinburgh bronze awards as well as alongside members of The Highlanders, 4th battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (4 Scots) who are based at Catterick.
“The academy is going to be a fully immersive experience, with learners living together in one unit following a military regime around the hours that the class isn’t on, engaging in activities such as parade, drill and room inspections to maintain the culture of the academy,” states the letter.
Both the Ministry of Justice and Novus did not respond to inquiries for further information.
It is not known how many inmates will be involved or whether prisoner enlistment in the academy is voluntary or an obligatory part of their sentence.
It is also unclear whether any alterations have been made to the fabric of the Deerbolt complex to house the new academy.
However, the letter to Barnard Castle Town Council states: “We are attempting to make the academy as real as we possibly can, working with staff with recent and existing military experience. Learners will wear uniforms.”
Those behind the scheme state they are “very keen” to forge community links and asked the town council if they could adopt the Barnard Castle coat of arms in the academy's cap badge.
However, town councillors declined the request, pointing out that the crest applies only within the town boundaries – and Deerbolt lies within Startforth parish. Clerk Michael King also questioned whether the town council could approve the use of the crest by other organisations, as that right rested with the College of Arms.
According to the Ministry of Justice, the current capacity of Deerbolt YOI is 513.
The prison holds convicts aged 18-21 serving sentences of between four years and life.
It normally takes prisoners from the North East, Cumbria, Yorkshire and Humberside.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.