The Prison Service has this week come under scathing attack for its "gross mismanagement" of Downview Prison in Downs Road, during its turnaround into a women-only prison.

The Board of Visitors' (BOV) annual report, released on Monday, highlighted key concerns including an increase of drugs being used within the prison, weakness in management and communication, difficulties in recruitment and the failure to establish the provision of healthcare on a properly-contracted permanent basis.

It stated Downview's role within the Prison Service, highlighted as a "serious shortcoming" back in June 2000, still had not been addressed by senior members of the service.

And commenting on the service's role in managing the jail's intake of female prisoners in July this year, it added: "The gross mismanagement on the part of the Prison Service displays total lack of concern and indeed, contempt, for human issues.

"In this instance, the way officers have been treated seems to the BOV to be an abuse of the Prison Service's authority."

The report, however, praised staff at Downview as well as the education schemes which run within the prison. It said: "The governor and his staff are showing enormous dedication and goodwill.

"They are determined to create something viable from the chaos passed on to them by the Prison Service."

The Home Office has admitted Downview's transition into an all-female jail was not smooth. It said: "The Prison Service has acknowledged the circumstances under which the re-role took place were not ideal. The re-role is ongoing and the service is continuing to improve conditions and regimes for the women already at Downview.

"Director general of the service Martin Narey has praised staff at Downview, who have lived up to the prison's reputation of being a positive and humane establishment."

Downview's governor Robert Chapman has refused to comment on the report.

Chairman of the BOV Simon Morrison said the board and the management were unclear as to what the future holds for the prison. He said: "There is a general shortage of female remand prisons in the south.

"We don't know whether the Prison Service plans for Downview to be a remand prison, but it could well be."

Crispin Blunt, MP for Reigate and Banstead, who has taken a special interest in the prison within Parliament, added: "The tragedy is a year ago we had people appealing to get into Downview because of the drugs rehabilitation schemes and benefits people got from being here. But now there isn't even a drugs scheme running."

p In a separate blow to the jail, four suicide attempts have been reported within the last fortnight.

November 23, 2001 12:01