HM Prison Wakefield

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HMP Wakefield
Wakefield skyline - geograph.org.uk - 969212.jpg
HM Prison Wakefield dominates the skyline of Wakefield.
Location Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England
Security class Adult Male/Category A
Population 751 (as of November 2007)
Opened 1594
Managed by HM Prison Services
Governor Susan Howard

Her Majesty's Prison Wakefield is a Category A men's prison, located in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England. The prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service, and is the largest high security prison in the United Kingdom (and western Europe). The prison has been nicknamed the "Monster Mansion" due to the large number of high-profile, high-risk sex offenders and murderers held there.[1][2]

History

1944: "A view of an inmate's room at Wakefield Prison. Clearly visible are the bed, a chair, several small shelves, and slop bucket. The rest of the inmate's belongings, such as a pair of shoes and a comb, have been set out neatly, ready for inspection. Chalked on a small blackboard are the words 'soap please'."
In the engineering works, inmates are trained in a new trade as part of their rehabilitation and preparation for their return to society, 1944

Wakefield Prison was originally built as a house of correction in 1594. Most of the current prison buildings date from the Victorian times. The current prison was designated a ‘dispersal' prison in 1966 (the longest of the remaining original group).[clarification needed]

"Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush"

The exercise yard at Wakefield has a Mulberry tree around which female inmates used to exercise. This has been linked to the nursery rhyme 'Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush' by the erstwhile prison governor, RS Duncan in his book 'Here we go round the mulberry bush' The House of Correction 1595 / HM Prison Wakefield 1995 (published by author 1994). This origin of the song is also propounded on the prison's website. There is no corroborative evidence to support this theory.

Recent history

In 2001, it was announced that a new Supermax security unit was to be built at Wakefield Prison. The unit was to be built to house the most dangerous inmates within the British prisons system, and was the first such unit of its kind to be built in the United Kingdom.[3]

In March 2004, an inspection report from Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons criticised staff at Wakefield prison for being disrespectful to inmates. The report claimed that the prison was "over-controlled", and a third of the prison's inmates claimed to have been victimised.[4]

Present

Wakefield Prison holds approximately 600 of Britain's most dangerous people (mainly sex offenders and prisoners serving life sentences for violent crimes against women and children). Accommodation at the prison comprises single occupancy cells with integral sanitation. All residential units have kitchens available for offenders to prepare their own meals. An Incentives and Earned Privileges system allows standard and enhanced offenders the opportunity of in-cell TV. All offenders are subject to mandatory drugs testing and there are voluntary testing arrangements, which are compulsory for all offenders employed as e.g. wing cleaners or kitchen workers.

HMP Wakefield offers a range of activities for inmates, including charity work, an accredited course in industrial cleaning, and a Braille shop where offenders convert books to Braille. The Education Department is operated by The Manchester College, and offers learning opportunities ranging from basic skills to Open University courses. Other facilities include a prison shop, gym, and multi-faith chaplaincy.


Former inmates

References

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External links

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