A recent inspection of HMP Forest Bank, a Category B reception prison located in Salford, has highlighted several serious concerns regarding the safety, care, and rehabilitation of its inmates.
The unannounced inspection, conducted by the HM Inspectorate of Prisons in December 2024, raises alarm bells over the prison’s ongoing struggles to provide a secure and rehabilitative environment for its population.
Following the inspection, one of the most pressing issues identified in the report was the high level of violence within the prison.
The inspection revealed that incidents of violence, self-harm, and widespread drug use are rampant, creating a dangerous environment for both staff and prisoners.
The report emphasised that these ongoing safety concerns remain significant barriers to the prison’s overall ability to rehabilitate offenders and ensure the welfare of those in its care.
The findings are particularly alarming considering the vital role that safety plays in rehabilitation – with prisoners in such an unsafe environment, the potential for recovery and reintegration into society being severely hindered.
In addition to safety concerns, the inspection also highlighted the limited opportunities for prisoners to engage in meaningful activities, such as education and work.
A staggering 40 per cent of the inmate population spends the majority of their days locked in their cells without any purposeful activity.
The report notes that this lack of engagement not only affects prisoners’ mental well-being but also undermines efforts to prepare them for life after release.
Educational programs and work placements are essential components of rehabilitation, offering inmates the chance to learn new skills and improve their chances of securing stable employment upon their release.
However, according to the inspectors, these opportunities remain insufficient, leaving many prisoners without the tools they need to reintegrate successfully into society.
Another significant issue raised in the report is the lack of support for prisoners when it comes to securing stable housing upon release, with many inmates at HMP Forest Bank being released into homelessness, limiting their ability to reintegrate into society.
And with a lack of housing, the chances of reoffending and falling back into a cycle of criminal behaviour increase dramatically.
The report concludes with a call for the prison governor to take immediate action to address these issues.
It urges the implementation of a comprehensive improvement plan to tackle the concerns raised, with a particular focus on reducing violence, expanding educational opportunities, and ensuring that prisoners are better prepared for life after release.
While some progress has been made since the previous inspection in 2022, HMP Forest Bank still faces significant challenges in providing a safe and rehabilitative environment for its inmates.
The latest inspection serves as a stark reminder that much work remains to be done if the prison is to fulfil its core purpose of rehabilitating offenders and helping them reintegrate into society successfully.
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