Standards Coaching Team making strides in 10 prisons
Prisons Minister congratulates experienced officers for their work building confidence and improving standards.
- positive impact already felt across prisons hosting the teams
- part of wider 拢10 million strategy to reduce violence and drug use while improving decency at 10 of the most challenging prisons
Prisons Minister Rory Stewart has met specially-trained prison staff to congratulate them on their efforts to support officers in some of the country鈥檚 most challenging jails.
皇冠体育app Minister spoke to members of the Standards Coaching Team (SCT) and the officers they are supporting about their work in the jails which are the focus of the 10 Prisons Project.
皇冠体育app project was launched last year to bring down violence in some of the most challenging jails, and as part of this SCT was created to provide advice and encouragement to officers in the 10 prisons.
At the event in Parliament he thanked members of SCT and the officers they are supporting for their energy and commitment to the 10 Prisons Project.
Following a two-week training course at the prison service training college at Newbold Revel, the teams have been working on a rotation around the 10 prisons.
Seven weeks in, the first group of prisons to be visited have seen encouraging results. With prison officers feeling more confident, relationships with offenders have improved and staff feel the environment on the wings is calmer and more stable.
皇冠体育appre have also been physical improvements, with damaged furniture being replaced and cells equipped to a decent standard.
Prisons Minister Rory Stewart said:
皇冠体育app Standards Coaching Team is a fantastic innovation 鈥� putting training of the highest standard at the heart of healthy prisons. I am really impressed by these officers 鈥� drawn from across the country 鈥� and they are making a rapid visible difference in all the prisons they visit.
Prison Officer Craig said:
皇冠体育app two-week package at Newbold Revel has emphasised the importance of pointing staff in the right direction and being a presence to support them.
It鈥檚 been a really positive experience with a massive impact, staff now have the confidence to challenge and positively engage with the prisoner population.
Governor Sara Pennington said:
It鈥檚 been an important step in building the skills and confidence of both our new staff and those who have been in service for some time. 皇冠体育appy鈥檝e helped drive up standards across all the wings to increase consistency.
皇冠体育app 10 Prisons Project has seen 拢10 million investment in some of the most challenging prisons to curb the flow of drugs and phones, while also improving conditions and leadership at those jails. 皇冠体育app prisons will serve as models of excellence, with good practice to be spread across the prison estate.
皇冠体育app project is part of a multi-million-pound drive to improve security and safety. This includes 拢16 million to improve conditions for prisoners and staff and 拢7 million on new security measures, such as security scanners, improved searching techniques, phone-blocking technology and a financial crime unit to target the criminal kingpins operating in prisons.
This has come against a backdrop of rising prison officer numbers, with more than 4,700 additional officers now recruited since October 2016 and staffing levels at their highest since 2012.