Jail training must improve

Published on 12/09/2012 02:04

STAFF training at Scotland’s newest private jail should be a priority, inspectors said, after a report claimed some employees there seemed inexperienced.

HM Chief Inspector of Prisons Brigadier Hugh Monro raised concerns about staff at HMP Addiewell in West Lothian.

A report published last January highlighted the level of staff retention at the jail, which opened at the end of 2008.

In a follow-up report published yesterday, Brigadier Monro said that “staff retention still appears to be poor”. The prison is run by Sodexho Justice Service, who said at the time of the original report that improved salaries would lead to a drop in staff turnover.

But Brigadier Monro’s report said: “The figures show that staff retention still appears to be poor. The result of this is that some staff in the halls appear to be inexperienced and are not as engaged with prisoners as I would have expected.

“I suggest that staff training in halls is addressed as a priority.”