Prison managers disciplined for trying to rig inspections

Five prison bosses could face the sack after moving inmates between jails in an attempt to fool the Chief Inspector of Prisons.

Managers at Wandsworth and Pentonville jails in London agreed to switch ‘problem’ prisoners so they would not be seen during inspections by Anne Owers.

In her inspection report Owers said that the work of staff who had tried to improve conditions would be overshadowed by the prisoner-swap arrangements.

“The inspections will be remembered for the unacceptable attempts, at managerial level, to subvert the inspection process at the expense of prisoners’ well-being,” she said.

Ian Mulholland, formerly governor at Wandsworth and now head of custody in Wales, and Nick Leader, formerly governor at Pentonville and now governor of the top-security Whitemoor jail have been charged with gross misconduct, reports the Times.

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The deputy governor of Wandsworth and two other managers are facing similar charges. They will go before a hearing chaired by Michael Spurr, deputy head of the National Offender Management Service.

Justice secretary Jack Straw is due to make a statement in the Commons today (20 October).