A Day Visit To A Women's Prison

It is time, I feel, for a good news prison story. I had never set foot in a Women’s Prison until three weeks ago when I went to visit Foston Hall, in Derby. I accompanied one very good friend, who had spent part of her previous life in that establishment, to visit a mutual friend who is still very much stuck there. It was well worth the trip. The staff are a credit to the Prison Service and made what is always an emotional experience for visitors into a pleasant one for all families and friends visiting.

First Impressions

Foston Hall has a capacity of around 300 women, and like all other establishments in the Women’s sector has no category. The buildings are brick built, and in large grounds in which are areas for those serving their sentences to take part in positive activities, such as gardening, plus has access for contact with animals. As everywhere there are tensions and disturbances, but overall the atmosphere created is ideal for everyone to come to terms with their position, socialise, and prepare for release. There are some in there on life sentences, others with short spells. I found the small, compact, size to be a far cry from the huge monstrosities that exist in the male sector, and of which we are building more.

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On arrival at the car park, the first place you notice is the Visitor Centre inside the gate. Staffed for the hours prior to visiting time by PACT, the Prison Advice Care Trust, it includes helpful information, and indeed helpful officers prepared to assist and advise. After all, many people come to visit only once or twice and need guidance on what they can and cannot take inside the main gates as well as other questions answered. It saves the inconvenience of sitting in the car park for long periods of time, or standing frustrated in a pointless queue before the gate gets opened. There was also an inevitable, and anonymous, questionnaire to complete on potential improvements. I suggested a coffee machine!

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Given that the PACT worker within the Visitor Centre remembered the friend with whom I had arrived, our stay in the Visitor Centre was actually taken up with their lengthy and friendly exchanges on how their lives had moved on, but it did not detract from her desire and ability to talk with other visitors as they drifted through, prior to going to the main prison gate.

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Everybody arriving to visit someone inside is stressed. You do not know how you will find them, and how they will react. Prisons stretch family relationships and friendships, so this area in which to relax and unwind, and ask questions on matters of which you are uncertain prior to entry seems an excellent idea. They should be created everywhere in all sizes of establishments. Tension evaporated.

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Come On In

Then to the queue at the gate. The officer inside kept everyone informed on what was happening, and that due to a shortage of available staff the verifications may take a little longer than would be ideal but did so very professionally, and it would be hard to suggest that the delay he described was anything other than trivial. We, and everyone, were speedily inside the gates and getting ready for being searched. We had all been advised in the Visitor Centre what could, and could not, be taken in but quite rightly, for clarification purposes, the staff went through the process again. Then on to scanning and searching.

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Anyone who has been inside a prison knows how many restrictions and regulations there are, but what was particularly impressive was that at Foston Hall these rules were both described and also explained. It makes a lot of difference to everyone if what may seem petty, absurd, and annoying, is put into context. This specific action is taken, we were informed, so it avoids that harmful and negative outcome. Nobody minds a minor inconvenience if it has a reason, and it soon became clear that thanks to this proactive staff attitude, nobody minded at all. We entered the Visits’ Room, pretty typical layout of course, to find our friend having been notified of our arrival, swiftly entering to join us which ensured we did not miss any of the available time. And the coffee was actually surprisingly good as well, which for me is always a bonus. The atmosphere was relaxed and pleasant.

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Things To Consider

There has to be a gripe of course, and there were two issues of concern of which I was made aware. The first is related to the low wages paid to the women. Apparently, this had previously been discussed at previous meetings where it had been indicated it would be upgraded, but nothing done yet. Inflation is rampant but this is about more than just an extra pack of biscuits. This is a reflection of self-worth and personal control of your life while in Prison. The second related to the practice of charging 50p per purchase for goods ordered from catalogues authorised by the Prison. This is an “admin” fee, but has no logical basis as the admin staff are paid a salary regardless of their processing of such purchases so this is not to reflect the cost of their handling this, which has been approved by the prison. On a tight cash limited budget, a few extra pounds just to buy essential items is wrong. I understand that this had been discussed before too but left unresolved.

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It will be good to hear when these are settled. Families and friends outside prison are struggling enough to live their own lives, and of course travelling to Derby to physically be with their loved ones costs money. If they need to increasingly subsidise those inside so they can make life a little more bearable it makes it very tough indeed, so a few more pounds coming in and a few less taken out on top of the cost of catalogue purchases will be a significant morale as well as financial boon.

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Random Thoughts

On the train home, as you do, I read the latest Inspectors’ report on HMP Pentonville, an update on a full inspection held just last year. It reported on positive progress in many areas, but highlighted that there are far too many people locked up in the building and that it makes truly effective management virtually impossible. The report says that in 2019 and then again in 2022 they had highlighted this, yet in April 2023 there were more people than ever so the direction of travel was going the wrong way. Pentonville Management, they report, have clearly made some innovative and positive moves, but lack of space and difficulties in making adaptations to the fabric of this monstrosity make it so hard to come to the type of standards that we should find in 2023. Pentonville was designed to hold 520 people but according to this report now hosts 1100 and that is increasing. The earlier report raised this as an important issue, and The Chief Inspector of Prisons writes this increase must be reversed so the “fragile improvements can be embedded”.

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The PACT worker I met in the Visitor Centre at Foston Hall told us how she had visited HMP Leeds and what a shock it was, similar to Pentonville, and yet we are building more and more giant warehouse style prisons then filling them up. Prison Tower blocks are totally the wrong direction. I have no idea how many times this needs to be said before someone takes notice. Cramming thousands of people into a giant space leads to tension, violence, restrictions, more tension, and more violence.

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Final Words

I know there are worrying signs in Women’s Estates of self-harm and suicides increasing. A prison is still a prison. Staff shortages cause pressure, and good, experienced, staff are the ones who tend to leave and are greatly missed. But all I met on Sunday were perfect from arrival to departure, and I have to say that their pride in the progress made by my friend was genuine and moving. They know she not only works full time improving conditions in prison but also spends her own time supporting those she knew who are still in that jail, and also those who have been released who need support.

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I am going to leave the last words to her from an email she sent once she had reached home, whilst I was still sitting on the London train. I am sure virtually everyone who takes a job as a Prison Officer has the hope of feeling the way those who met her felt, proud of changing someone’s life around and delighted to see it work and would want similar words to be directed at them.

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“I was really buzzing to see staff that I know on visits. They were great and I had a laugh with them, I was even offered a bed for a few days, I politely declined lol. I think it is so important to let the staff see the turnaround with my life as they are all part of the journey and the success! Please can you remind them of that and thank them for today. Thank you for making my visit today feel safe and comfortable.” I just add, Amen to that.