HMP Lowdham Grange: Government takes over prison amid safety fears

Lowdham Grange has been privately run since it opened in 1998

The government has taken over the running of a prison just months after a damning report.

In August, an inspection at HMP Lowdham Grange in Nottinghamshire found a number of failings, including high levels of violence and self-harm.

A new governor will be appointed and extra experienced staff brought in to "improve stability, security and safety", officials said.

The new system will initially be for an interim period but could be extended.

HMP Lowdham Grange has been privately run since the 1990s and is a Category B training prison.

It houses adult male offenders, aged over 21 and with sentences of more than four years that have at least 12 months to serve, and has a maximum capacity of 920.

One of the main concerns highlighted in the recent report were the 14 prisoner deaths, six of which were self-inflicted, that had occurred since the previous inspection in 2018.

A recent report highlighted 14 prison deaths since 2018

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "The move comes after an unannounced inspection by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) this summer, which showed the prison was unsafe and failing to rehabilitate offenders.

"Despite work from the Prison Service and the operator Sodexo to try and improve standards since then, conditions have further deteriorated, and senior prison leaders have now concluded that stepping in is necessary to make the improvements needed."

'Decisive steps'

The government said it would work alongside Sodexo during this period to minimise disruption to staff and inmates.

Prisons minister Edward Argar said: "Given the very specific issues at HMP Lowdham Grange, it is right that we have swiftly taken the action necessary to deliver the required improvements, and by 'stepping in' we are able to provide the additional support needed.

"The majority of our privately-run prisons, including others run by Sodexo, perform well, but where circumstances make it necessary, just as with all prisons, we will always take the decisive steps necessary to ensure they meet the standards we expect."

A Sodexo spokesperson said: "We are continuing to work closely with the Ministry of Justice and HMPPS [HM Prison & Probation Service] at this time, and our primary focus remains on ensuring minimal disruption and maintaining a safe and secure environment for everyone who lives and works at the prison."