Legal News
High-Security Prison Guard Caught Snoozing On the Job (14 September 2011)
Date: 14/09/2011
A prison officer at a Category A prison was caught sleeping on the job, according to inspection reports. The guard at Belmarsh prison in Thamesmead, south-east London, appeared to inspectors to be fast asleep at a time when he was supposed to be supervising a visit in the jail's high-security unit. The prison houses high-risk and high profile prisoners, including terrorists and killers.
The report, which followed a full, unannounced inspection of the prison in April of this year, states that during the inspection, “an officer supervising a visit for a prisoner in the unit appeared asleep.” The report goes on to comment on the inappropriate nature of the incident and claims to have referred to the matter to the prison’s management team so that action can be taken. The inspectors found the prison to be improving but revealed that continued work was necessary.
Michael Spurr, the National Offender Management Service’s chief executive officer, admitted that maintaining an appropriate level of security and providing effective rehabilitative opportunities is a difficult task. Belmarsh prison, which comprises four residential units with 60 per cent multi-occupancy cells and 40 per cent single cells, offers prisoners the chance to train as football coaches as well as regular access to educational resources and workshops.
Duncan Lewis’ prison law solicitors pride themselves in protecting prisoners’ rights. The department comprises several specialist teams of highly skilled lawyers, all dedicated to providing prisoners and their families with comprehensive advice and assistance on prison law.