THE Government has been forced to take over a private prison after a damning report found serious safety concerns.
Ministry of Justice staff stepped in at HMP Lowdham Grange after warnings about a series of suicides, readily availability of drugs, and staff shortages.
In December more than 600 litres of hooch were confiscated as part of an operation to crack down on illegally brewed alcohol.
In 2023 five men took their own lives while locked up at the jail.
The jail has one of the highest rates of drug use in the prison estate – with 40 per cent of inmates testing positive for banned substances in routine checks.
Sodexo was awarded a £264 million 10-year contract to manage the prison in February 2023 but is handing back the keys nine years early because of the urgent issues.
The category B men’s prison near Nottingham was ruled to be unsafe during an unannounced inspection in August.
An interim report in March this year found that 127 staff had resigned in ten months – leaving the prison desperately short-staffed.
Up to 50 more staff have been drafted in to try to get the situation in the prison under control.
Additional security is also now being added to the gates to stop contraband from being brought in with broken windows patched up.
The Ministry of Justice announced “step-in” measures in September but have now revealed they will be taking back control of the prison permanently from the summer.
When Sodexo took over from previous provider Serco in 2023 it was the first time one private company had taken over from another.
Prisons Minister Edward Argar said: “Given the very specific issues at HMP Lowdham Grange, we took swift action to step-in and improve conditions and safety by providing extra support.
“The majority of private prisons perform well, including others Sodexo runs, but it has become clear that taking over permanently is the best way to ensure that improvements continue.”
A Sodexo spokesperson said: “Sodexo and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) have agreed, in principle, terms to transfer the management and operation of HMP Lowdham Grange to HMPPS. Negotiations are ongoing with the associated costs for Sodexo anticipated within its fiscal 2024 guidance. It is anticipated that the transition will take effect in summer 2024.
“HMP Lowdham Grange is a prison facing a unique set of challenges. We have worked tirelessly and very closely with HMPPS since February 2023 to seek to improve stability and deliver the significant improvements expected. However, we believe, in these specific circumstances, that this move is in the best interests of all concerned.
“At this time, we are focused on working alongside the MoJ and HMPPS to ensure a safe, secure and seamless transfer for everyone who lives and works at the prison.
“We wholeheartedly thank our colleagues at the prison who work exceptionally hard in often difficult circumstances.
“Sodexo has delivered justice services in the UK for more than 30 years and we are proud of our prisons and our teams. We remain committed to delivering high quality prison services which deliver positive outcomes for prisoners and our communities.”
