Numbers down at the Prison

Thursday 02 July 2015

Prisoner numbers were down in 2014 and there was a “significant” drop in assaults on prisoners over the year.

The peak population over the course of the year was 150 – a figure lower than the minimum populations recorded in 2010 and 2011.

And prison authorities say that no women under 21 and only one boy between 15-17 were detained in custody during the whole year.

In his notes accompanying the Prison’s Annual Report, Governor Bill Millar said that the number of attacks on staff rose, down to one prisoner.

He wrote: “While it is encouraging to note a significant reduction in assaults on prisoners, the number of assaults on staff rose from six in 2013 to 12 in 2014.

“Eight of the 12 are attributed to one very difficult and violent individual.”

Figures show that over the course of the year:

- 16 assaults were committed – eight were referred to police and eight prisoners were confined to their cells.

- 11 prisoners were sanctioned for possessing things that they were not allowed to have.

- 19 sanctions were made for destroying or damaging prison property.

- 33 prisoners were punished for using  “threatening, abusive or insulting” words or behaviour.

- Prisoners’ food cost £4.09 per day.