Maximum-security prison Belmarsh is home to some of the world's most notorious and dangerous criminals. So why is its new governor encouraging a less punitive approach? Reporter GLENN EBREY spent a morning at Her Majesty's pleasure to find out more ...

FROM the outside Belmarsh does not look like the most welcoming place, with its giant, high-fenced ring of steel.

Inside I expected an equally uncompromising scene of no-nonsense prison warders barking orders to rowdy inmates, such as Mackay from TV sitcom Porridge.

However, having spent the morning at Belmarsh last week I left with one impression prison ain't what it used to be.

If you are part of the lock em' up and throw away the key' brigade I suggest you stop reading now Belmarsh bosses are doing things slightly differently these days.

The interior of the prison, which can hold up to 920 inmates, looks pretty much as you would expect, with drab brown walls, steel staircases and long corridors full of padlocked doors.

The high-security wing at Belmarsh houses some of country's most high-profile criminals, including Great Train robber Ronnie Biggs and road rage killer Kenneth Noye.

Belmarsh, which opened 15 years ago, has four Houseblocks, residential units which each hold different categories of prisoner.

The bulk of my tour concentrated on Houseblock three, the first-night centre' which is the first port of call for most prisoners during their time behind bars.

It was here I saw the first signs of a new approach.

The prison's anti-drug strategy encourages former addicts to take part in therapeutic group chats, where they share their experiences with a mentor.

This strategy allows inmates to take part in acupuncture and meditation sessions, in a bid to kick the habit.

Prisoners can also earn themselves new qualifications while they are doing time.

Belmarsh has its own library and classrooms where inmates can sit short courses in everything from literacy and numeracy to cookery and music.

Inmates can follow their chosen religion at the prison's own chapel, work out at the gym and also play pool.

Some of the prisoners are also pretty handy in the garden, if their efforts in transforming the prison grounds into a horticultural haven are anything to go by.

Belmarsh even has its own water feature. What would Norman Stanley Fletcher make of this?

As I left the jail one man, straight out of the old school, chirped: "It's like a bloody holiday camp in there."

Rightly or wrongly, Belmarsh has decided prison is as much about rehabilitating offenders as punishing them.

Even if it is like a holiday camp, remember we all have one thing these holidaymakers' crave: our freedom.

Flocking to governor's job

CLAUDIA Sturt used to be responsible for nothing more than the odd flock of sheep.

Now she is looking after some of the most high-profile prisoners in the UK.

The new Belmarsh governor has not followed the usual career path to becoming the head of a maximum-security prison.

Fifteen years ago she was working in the outback in Australia as a sheep shearer's assistant.

It was during her time down under she first had thoughts of working behind bars.

Mrs Sturt said: "While I was in Australia there was a spate of suicides in custody but no-one seemed to know what to do about it.

"This really planted the seed for me.

"It got me thinking more about what incarceration does to people."

Mrs Sturt was governor at Dartmouth category C jail, in Devon, before taking up the reins at Belmarsh last month.

She said: "People assume this job must be horrible but I love every day.

"Prisons are challenging places to work in but great fun.

"There is always a lot of humour around."

Speaking about her aims at Belmarsh Mrs Sturt added: "My motivation is about helping people, not just punishment."

She added: "Our job is to release people in a better state than we got them."