Other
One real concern for us as a Board has been the performance of GFSL in providing services to the prison. We have found many examples of their lack of attention to detail and failure to rectify problems in a reasonable period of time. For example, the prison laundry has been beset with mechanical problems, with excessive delays in dealing with malfunctioning machines and the inability to sort out problems as and when they occur. Similarly, we were horrified to find that a raft of impressive machinery acquired for use in the Gardens Department was purchased without the appropriate warranties and in some situations was fundamentally unsafe to use. On more than one occasion we have heard the comment ‘GFSL is Carrillion with another badge’. Our view is that the service provided by GFSL and its oversight of suppliers is woefully inadequate.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Internet facilities are very sporadic inside the prison, which restricts prisoners' ability to correspond with potential future employers, craft CVs, and learn necessary technological skills for release. Improved technological support would also save staff resources for checking prisoners' whereabouts.
Source wording under review
Estate/Conditions
The state of several of the buildings is deteriorating and, in view of the delayed proposed expansion, urgent attention must be given to renovating parts of the estate, including the historic hangar which continues to fall into disrepair, and an unfinished, potentially dangerous patio outside the Visits area.
Food/Catering
Standford Hill continues to have food brought from the kitchens at Swaleside. This system is far from ideal and there are concerns at both prisons about its efficiency. However, Swaleside Board does not believe this system works well for them. On occasion there are problems with transporting the food from one site to another, leading to a delay, but the Board have received no complaints from prisoners, who remain tolerant of the difficulties arising from the arrangement.
Estate/Conditions
With the successful introduction of new individual pods, there is a concern that this may give rise to a perception of inequality of accommodation in various sections of the prison.