Report into HMP Millsike provides food for thought on prisons crisis

It isn’t just simply a case of building and opening new prisons. They need to be meticulously planned and properly resourced.

The opening of the new super prison near York last year was described as “chaotic” with basic processes, like drawing keys, locking doors and counting prisoners, not yet established.

Given the obvious shortage in prison places, there is a great temptation to rush into new builds. But as the report into Millsike shows, doing so without careful design consideration would be a grave mistake.

The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) found that design faults in other new prisons had been repeated at Millsike, leading to problems such as blind spots for officers on landings, no gym, no air conditioning in workshops or houseblocks, and inadequate reception space.

One of the biggest challenges facing the Government when it comes to tackling the prisons crisis is the shortage of staff.

The fact that Millsike is still operating at hundreds of prisoners below its full capacity more than a year after opening should be a wake up call for the Government.

If HMP Millsike fills its hundreds of empty cells, it will revert to being unsafe and understaffed, like it was during its opening.

What this report highlights is the need for staffing as much as real estate. Millsike is said to have struggled to hire staff as a result of its remote location. New prisons need to be located in the right places. The Government faces an invidious challenge on this front as few communities are likely to welcome a new prison on their doorstep.