New £238M 'Super Prison' Ranks Among UK's Worst Despite Modern Approach
HMP Five Wells, a recently opened 1,700-capacity prison in Britain, has been ranked among the country's worst despite its modern facilities and rehabilitation-focused approach. Staffing issues and security concerns have led to its low performance rating.
In a surprising turn of events, HMP Five Wells, one of Britain's newest and most expensive prisons, has been ranked among the worst in the country. This development raises questions about the effectiveness of modern approaches to incarceration and rehabilitation.
Opened in 2022, the £238 million facility was designed to house 1,700 men and was hailed as a "super prison" of the future. The prison adopted a more liberal regime, referring to offenders as residents and cells as rooms. Despite these progressive measures, HMP Five Wells has been included in a list of 15 jails described as "of serious concern" – the lowest grade in the Ministry of Justice's performance ratings.
The prison's innovative features include:
- Tablet computers for every prisoner
- In-cell showers
- Workshops for various skills, including hairdressing and forklift truck maintenance
- Modern gym facilities and sports pitches
- Snooker and table tennis in each of its seven blocks
These amenities align with research showing that sports and physical activities in prisons can positively impact inmate behavior and mental health. However, the presence of such facilities has not prevented the prison's performance from declining.
The main reason for the drop in ratings is security and stability, which has fallen from a good ranking in 2023 to the lowest possible in 2024. This decline is particularly concerning given that HMP Five Wells is part of a larger initiative to revolutionize the UK's penal system.
"Inexperienced staff were not enforcing proper behaviour, self-harm was too high, healthcare provision was inadequate, drugs were too freely available, and there was a failure to get people to education and training classes."
The Independent Monitoring Board's report from September 2023 highlighted staffing issues, including a shortage of experienced officers and education tutors. These problems have led to a lack of activities crucial for rehabilitation, which is particularly concerning given that rehabilitation programs can reduce recidivism rates by up to 10%.
Management instability has also plagued the prison, with three different directors in its first 15 months of operation. This revolving door of leadership has likely contributed to the inconsistent implementation of policies and procedures.
It's worth noting that the UK has one of the highest incarceration rates in Western Europe, and the cost of maintaining a prisoner is approximately £40,000 per year. Given these figures, the performance of expensive new facilities like HMP Five Wells is of particular importance to taxpayers and policymakers alike.
The prison's spokesperson has acknowledged the challenges and stated that progress is being made on an action plan focusing on recruitment, retention, governance, and delivering a stronger education program. As the UK continues to experiment with various prison designs and management approaches, the situation at HMP Five Wells serves as a reminder that modern facilities alone are not enough to ensure successful rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders into society.
