Fire-hit Ford Prison’s bid to take arsonists

Ford Open Prison in flames during the riot on New Years Day, 2011

Ford governor John Wilson wants to change a long-standing agreement with Arun District Council over the categories of offenders held at the prison, which excludes arsonists and sex offenders.

A surge in the numbers of prisoners nationally has led to a review of the types of inmates allocated to prisons.

However, Bognor Regis and Littlehampton MP Nick Gibb has criticised the proposal at Ford. He told the Gazette: “I would be very concerned if Ford sought to change any element of the three-year agreement with Arun on behalf of the local community.

“We cannot allow arsonists to be held at Ford. I trust Arun would not agree to such a change.

“I have asked to meet the governor to voice my concerns and opposition.”

Mr Wilson has given Arun three months’ notice – up to October 9 – of his intention to vary the agreement.

In a letter at the beginning of this month, he wrote to the council’s deputy chief executive, Nigel Croad, stating that including arsonists at Ford had now been agreed by the National Offender Management Service headquarters and he wished to discuss this with Mr Croad and councillors.

The letter adds: “To enable us to manage any perceived risks of introducing arsonists to Ford, we are proposing to focus primarily on those who are serving indeterminate longer sentences. This cohort we usually find present a lower risk of abscond and misbehaviour and are more suited to the resettlement regime here.”

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice said any new prisoners joining Ford would need to pass ‘a rigorous risk assessment’ before joining the jail.

She added the rise in the prison population is being managed through ‘safe and proportionate measures’.

The governor states there are no plans to introduce sex offenders ‘at this time’ and this would be reflected in the modified agreement due to expire on February 6, 2016. Arun’s cabinet will discuss proposed changes, which also include raising the maximum number of prisoners by 18 to 539, at tonight’s meeting (Monday, September 15).