HM Prison Peterborough

HMP Peterborough
Location Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
Security class Category B/Adults & Young Offenders
Capacity 840 (August 2008)
Opened 2005
Managed by Sodexo Justice Services

HM Prison Peterborough is a Category B private prison for men, and a closed prison for women and female young offenders, located in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England. The prison is operated by Sodexo Justice Services, and is the only dual purpose-built prison holding males and females in the United Kingdom.

History

HMP Peterborough was built on the site of the former Baker Perkins engineering works. The prison opened in 2005, despite a great deal of protest from local residents. The Prison Service claimed at the time that Peterborough as a 'mixed-use' prison would become a blueprint for the prisons of the future.[1] Peterborough Prison was soon involved in controversy however, when the jail advertised to recruit 2 holistic therapists to offer reflexology, aromatherapy and Indian head massages to inmates. The MP for Peterborough, Stewart Jackson accused the prison of pampering inmates and sending out the wrong message to hard-working families.[2]

In January 2008, a national table of prisons compiled by the Prison Service revealed that Peterborough Prison had come last out of 132 prisons and prison clusters, with low marks for reducing re-offending, organisational effectiveness and decency.[3] A month later, women prisoners at Peterborough complained that the food served at the jail was too high in calories, and made them put on weight. Officials at the prison claimed that healthy options were always available for inmates at mealtimes.[4]

In January 2013, the Ministry of Justice announced that an additional houseblock will be constructed at Peterborough Prison, increasing the overall capacity of the gaol.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Mixed prison opens for inspection". bbc.co.uk. 9 March 2005. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
  2. ↑ "Prison 'pampering' move angers MP". bbc.co.uk. 31 May 2005. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
  3. ↑ "Private jails 'worse than public'". bbc.co.uk. 19 January 2008. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
  4. ↑ "Women losing prison flab battle". bbc.co.uk. 19 February 2008. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
  5. ↑ "Seven prison closures in England announced". BBC News. 10 January 2013.

External links

Coordinates: 52°35′11″N 0°15′36″W / 52.58639°N 0.26000°W / 52.58639; -0.26000

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