HM Prison Stafford

HMP Stafford

File:HMP Stafford.jpg
Location	Stafford, Staffordshire
Security class	Adult Male/Category C
Population	741 (as of May 2009)
Opened	1793
Managed by	HM Prison Services
Governor	P J Butler
Website	Stafford at justice.gov.uk

HM Prison Stafford is a Category C men's prison, located in Stafford, Staffordshire, England. The prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service.

History

Her Majesty's Prison at Stafford was originally constructed and opened in 1793. It was substantially enlarged by a building development programme of works in the 19th Century.

Early history

Among its early prisoners was George Smith, who served several sentences for theft in the facility and began his later work as a hangman while still a prisoner, assisting William Calcraft. He officiated at several executions in the prison later in his life, including that of the convicted poisoner William Palmer in 1866.

Prisoner of War facility 1916

H.M.P. Stafford was used to incarcerate prisoners of war from the defeated Fenian revolution in April 1916.

Closure

The facility was closed in late 1916 and mothballed for two decades, re-opening on the commencement of World War 2 in 1939.

Security concerns in the 1990's

In November 1998, an inspection report from Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons heavily criticised security at H.M.P. Stafford after it emerged that prisoners were smuggling in narcotics for consumption within the facility. Inmates were fashioning strips of paper into planes, then attaching lines to them and flying them over the 19-foot (5.8-metre) perimeter wall. The lines were then used to pull packages containing narcotics and other prohibited substances back over the wall. The facility was also criticised for being overcrowded, under-resourced, and failing to adequately prepare prisoners for release.

2003 Reports

In March 2003, the Prison Reform Trust singled out Stafford Prison for concern over the high turnover rate in its Governor's Post. The Trust noted that H.M.P. Stafford had employed four different Governors in only five years, and that such unstable leadership would not be tolerated in schools or hospitals. The Trust also highlighted prison officers' absenteeism through sickness leave being an issue of concern.

In October 2003, a further report from the Chief Inspector praised improvements at Stafford Prison. H.M.P. Stafford was labelled as becoming an effective training prison specialising in helping vulnerable prisoners and sex offenders. Considerable advance had also been made in reducing the supply of narcotics into the prison, and in addressing drug addiction treatment. However the report also highlighted concerns over poor exercise facilities for prisoners, and whether foreign prisoners had enough access to specialised help.

Security enhancement works

In October 2003 a new entrance gateway system came into operation at Stafford to upgrade the facility's security.

The prison today

H.M.P. Stafford is a classed as a Category 'C' Prison facility for male adults. In addition the prison also incarcetrates a number of vulnerable prisoners (mainly sex offenders). It is divided into two separate Regimes, half for standard prisoners, and half for vulnerable prisoners. Those classed as 'Vulnerable' prisoners are housed on E and F Wings. The 'Standard' prisoners are housed on A, B, C, and D Wings, with G Wing having a mixed population. Accommodation at the prison consists mainly of double-occupancy cells, excepting G Wing which is single occupancy.

Notable inmates

• George Smith, penal executioner.
• William Palmer, physician and convicted murderer, executed and buried at H.M.P. Stafford.
• Michael Collins, Irish revolutionary prisoner of war, held in the facility in 1916.
• Rolf Harris, artist and televisual entertainer, currently serving a 5 years 9 months sentence in the facility (2015- ).

External links

• Ministry of Justice pages on Stafford