Nick Timothy, the MP for West Suffolk, praised the skills training programme and hardworking staff at Highpoint Prison after he visited the facility recently along with the local councillor for Clare, Cllr Bobby Bennett.
The MP and County Councillor were both shown around the Category-C Highpoint South prison, which is located on the A143 near Stradishall. Category C prisons are used for training and resettlement, giving prisoners the chance to develop skills so they can find employment and integrate back into society upon release.
The prison currently has around 1,300 male inmates. But the visit took place shortly after ground was broken last month on an expansion that will see approximately 700 more inmate places being added, as well as hundreds more staff. Following the work, Highpoint will be the largest prison in terms of land size in North-West Europe, and the largest in the UK based on prisoner population.
Cllr Bennett and Mr Timothy were given a tour by custodial manager Kieron McDonagh, and saw the open units in which prisoners stay in private spaces while sharing a communal kitchen.
Lisa Wheeler, the land-based activities manager at HMP Highpoint, described to Cllr Bennett and Mr Timothy the details of the electrician and railway mechanic training programmes that the facility offers. The grounds include areas of actual rail track and power lines where participants can practice their new trades.
Ms Wheeler told Cllr Bennett and Mr Timothy that the training programmes provide guaranteed employment upon release to those who complete the courses.
The Education department offers a range of other qualifications, including art and design, literacy and numeracy, social and life skills, business studies and computing.
Mr Timothy commented: “Prison works, because high-volume and dangerous criminals need to be kept away from the public for a long period. But of course prison works better when inmates are given the chance to learn useful skills so they can rejoin society and stand on their own two feet. I was hugely impressed by the leadership of the prison, and the professionalism and empathy of the prison officers I met.
He added:“The prison’s training programme is impressive. It helps to give confidence and pride to the prisoners who take part— and that is good for all of us since the prisoners can provide for their families and do something productive when they are released. And the evidence shows that it also reduces the risk of re-offending. Cllr Bennett and I were very grateful to the prison staff for taking the time to show us around.”
You can see coverage of the visit in the Haverhill Echo below. Alternatively, electronic versions of the article can be viewed here (in the East Anglian Daily Times) and here (in Suffolk News).
