HMP Doncaster tackles violence by bringing in rapists

A prison plagued by appalling levels of violence is tackling the problem by bringing in hundreds of sex offenders. In October 2015, HM Inspectorate of Prisons raised ‘serious concerns’ about levels of violence at privately-run HMP Doncaster, a 1,115-capacity local and resettlement prison accommodating youth and adult male inmates. ‘While it is perhaps understandable that, as a matter of policy, it might be decided that a prison should have a particular population profile, this should not be done in such a way that offender management of those prisoners is neglected.’ The Ministry of Justice confirmed that HMP Doncaster, which is operated by private firm Serco, was chosen as a suitable prison to hold an increased number of sex offenders. Michael Spurr, chief executive of Prison and Probation Service, said: ‘The leadership team at Doncaster are managing an increase in sex offenders and have created a specific houseblock dedicated to providing the right regime to support their rehabilitation as part of our wider population strategy to manage sex offenders effectively.’ Inspectors found levels of violence at the establishment had reduced sharply but remained high. Convicted and suspected rapists, molesters and paedophiles had been transferred to the volatile Category B prison in a bid a ‘stabilise’ it, said a watchdog Government plans to shut down old and ‘dilapidated’ prisons in England and Wales have been shelved because of a sudden surge in the jail population.