HM Prison Coldingley

HMP Coldingley
Location Bisley, Surrey
Security class Adult Male/Category C
Population 513 (as of May 2009)
Opened 1969
Managed by HM Prison Services
Governor Jo Sims
Website Coldingley at justice.gov.uk

HM Prison Coldingley is a Category C men's prison, located in the village of Bisley, in Surrey, England. The prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service.

History

In 1991 Coldingley was hailed as a flagship prison in England. However a 2004 report by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons criticised the jail for its lack of work and training for inmates, and poor prisoner resettlement programmes.[1]

In 2006 Coldingley was criticised again after it emerged that some inmates at the prison were earning up to £11,000 a year for prison work as well as earning up to £1,300 in working tax credits.[2]

In 2005, the Howard League for Penal Reform set up a graphic design studio in Coldingley which offers prisoners fully remunerated employment at market rates(now closed).

In July 2011, it was announced that along with several other prisons, Coldingley would be put up for market testing, allowing private companies as well as HM Prison service, to bid for a contract to run the prison.[3]

The prison today

Coldingley consists of 5 wings: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta & the new Echo Wing (October 2008). Wings A-D consist of 87 single cells and 3 doubles. Echo Wing also has single cells with a small number of doubles. E Wing houses kitchen Workers, Orderlies & inmates enrolled in the Rehabilitation of Addicted Prisoners Trust (RAPt) course. E Wing cells have in-cell sanitation and a shower. The other wings all operate on an automated night sanitation system, which can cause problems as inmates get held in queues to use sanitation. Showers facilities are communal.

High wages are not on offer at Coldingley anymore, but inmates can still earn up to £33 a week in the various industries located within the Prison. These industries are: Laundry, Sign Shop and Engineering.

Coldingley also operates a Crime Diversion Scheme (CDS), in which inmates are employed. This scheme involves young first time offenders visiting the prison to hear real inmates tell them the harsh realities of the loss of liberty in the hope that this may prevent them from embarking further towards the possibility of reoffending.

There is a brand new Education block which is slowly reaching its potential, but teaching recruiting is proving a problem, so it may be some time until it reaches its full capacity. The facilities in the education block are of a high standard. The Education department offers numerous courses, such as: Numeracy, literacy, Bookkeeping, Business Enterprise, Art, IT courses (CLAIT), preparation for work and several others.

A brand new gym was completed and opened to inmates in January 2009. The new equipment has already begun to inspire inmates and Prison officers to improve their fitness & health. The gym contains a variety of cardiovascular and weight training machines. 5 treadmills, 4 ergometers, 4 cross trainers, 2 bikes & 2 recumbent bikes (Life Fitness). Inmates are offered 7 gym sessions every fortnight.

Coldingley has a small library, which has a reasonable selection of books.

References

  1. ↑ "Criticism for 'flagship' prison". BBC News. 24 August 2004.
  2. ↑ "Convicts claim 'tax credits' on jail wages". Daily Mail. London. 17 December 2006.
  3. ↑ "BBC news article". BBC News. 13 July 2011.

External links

Coordinates: 51°19′21″N 0°38′31″W / 51.3224°N 0.6419°W / 51.3224; -0.6419

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