'Negative culture' at Winchester Prison

Up to half of inmates in Winchester's main prison wing spent 22 hours a day in their cells according to an HM Inspectorate of Prisons report.

In the face of increased pressure and demands on the unit's population, governors have been told to work harder at probation services, prisoner activities and integrating foreign and disabled prisoners.

Chief inspector of Prisons Anne Owers said: "In spite of the pressures in the system, Winchester is a reasonably well-performing local prison.

"However, there are some warning signs - the lack of sufficient activity spaces in the main prison, the somewhat dislocated resettlement arrangements and, in particular, the fact that residential staff are not fully engaged in the support and rehabilitation of prisoners."

Inspectors found that the prison, which has room for 542 inmates, was "reasonably safe",though first-night arrangements needed improvement and anti-bullying arrangements were weak.

There were also signs that the "negative culture",identified in the prison's last report in December 2004, had not disappeared.

While some staff interacted well with prisoners most did not think it was their job to provide positive support and were not involved in aspects of the prison's work, such as resettlement.

All prisoners in West Hill, the prison's category C and resettlement annex, had access to activity, often geared to employment opportunities.

But in the main prison, the report added, up to half the prisoners were unemployed and spent around 22 hours a day in their cells. There were no work-based qualifications.

Phil Wheatley, director general of the Prison Service, said: "The governor is fully aware of the need to improve staff/prisoner relationships and to increase the opportunities for purposeful activity for prisoners.

"The regime at the prison has now been reviewed and a number of changes made to improve the amount of time prisoners spend out of their cell."