HMP Dartmoor has been transformed over the past five years, from a prison stuck in a time-warp to a 21st-century training prison, said Anne Owers, Chief Inspector of Prisons, publishing the report of an unannounced short follow-up inspection. Dartmoor is a category C training prison. An inspection in 2001 found it over-controlled and disrespectful, offering scarcely any positive benefits to prisoners. Inspectors noted marked improvements, particularly in the provision of purposeful activity and the availability of resettlement services to all prisoners. Inspectors were impressed by: l work done in the Amethyst Unit, working with prisoners in crisis or with mental health needs l the extension of resettlement work to the whole prison, so that far fewer prisoners left with no accommodation, and far more left with jobs or education to go to l improved work opportunities, giving prisoners access to plumbing, carpentry and brickwork courses l well-managed allocation to activities, which was responsive to assessed prisoner needs. Further progress was needed in some areas: l too many prisoners were engaged in unproductive activities and there were too few qualifications on offer. New workshops were being built to address this l the segregation unit had improved since 2001, but a move to new premises would ensure more positive engagement with prisoners and a better physical environment l the proactive work being done by personal officers in specialist units was not yet evident in the rest of the prison l more staff resources needed to be allocated to race relations, foreign nationals and resettlement work. Anne Owers said: ?Dartmoor is an example of how the culture and effectiveness of a prison can be changed. Inspections have exposed serious concerns; managers have set out a clear vision for the prison, and engaged staff in its delivery. ?In spite of its unpromising location and historic buildings, Dartmoor is now an effective part of a modern prison service, and this is a credit to all who have worked hard to change it. ?This report, unlike its 2001 predecessor, is unlikely to make national headlines. That is a shame: the new Dartmoor deserves as much praise as the old Dartmoor deserved criticism.? Phil Wheatley, Director General of the Prison Service, said: ?As the 2003 report showed Dartmoor was a prison moving forward. I am delighted that this most recent report shows how well Dartmoor has consolidated the earlier progress and made major further strides. ?I am particularly pleased with the work of the Amethyst Unit, with work on resettlement and with the significant increase in meaningful work opportunities. ?The management and staff at Dartmoor are to be congratulated for the ongoing transformation of this previously difficult establishment.?
