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"Over two hundred jobs may be lost if Haverigg jail is displaced by nuclear dump" Nuclear Free Local Authorities


Nuclear Free Local Authorities have written an excellent briefing about the proposed nuclear dump displacing jobs in West Cumbria. One of the areas 'under consideration' is Millom. The surface facilities for a deep nuclear dump would be "modest" say the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management who advise on these matters. The size would be 1km square which is far from "modest" and is actually almost the size of Hyde Park. It is difficult to see where this nuclear sprawl could be accommodated along the Lake District's coast - the National Park is off limits so that doesn't leave much else where 1km square could go... One area could be Haverigg Prison. In the much repeated BBC sitcom Porridge, the fictional prison was based in Cumberland with references to family stopping over at Barrow for visits to the prison and the remoteness of the area. Yes the area is remote but squeezing a 1km nuclear sprawl into the coast looks nigh on impossible. Cue using existing government facilities. Prisoners to the nuclear industry.




6th August 2024

Over two hundred jobs may be lost if Haverigg jail is displaced by nuclear dump

Whilst Nuclear Waste Services are keen to promote the number of jobs that might be created by the establishment of a Geological Disposal Facility in West Cumbria, there is less clarity when it comes to identifying the number of jobs that might be lost.

The GDF will be the final resting place for the UK’s current and future high-level nuclear waste. Investigations are underway to identify potential sites in either Mid or South Copeland in West Cumbria, and in Theddlethorpe in Lincolnshire. A GDF would require a surface receiving station of around 1 sq KM, to which regular nuclear waste shipments would be made prior to the waste being moved underground and then pushed out along deep tunnels beneath the seabed.

In Theddlethorpe, a specific site, a former gas terminal, has been identified as the potential hub for a receiving station, but this has so far not been the case in Copeland. One major constraint in the South Copeland Search Area is that it mostly comprises the Lake District National Park and the proposed Southern Boundary Extension which are rightly ‘excluded from consideration’. Consequently, any GDF development would have to be confined to small areas around Drigg, Haverigg and Millom, and for many months there has been speculation that one potential site by the coast might be the location of HMP Haverigg.

Mindful that a GDF would most likely mean the closure of the jail, NFLA Secretary Richard Outram sent several Freedom of Information requests to the Ministry of Justice exploring the impact of the closure of the prison in these circumstances. The NFLAs are particularly keen to identify how many local jobs could be lost, as well as ascertaining the impact on local contractors and suppliers engaged in business with HMP Haverigg. There is also the less quantifiable contribution made by prisoners carrying out work within the local community and the positive impact of the training and support provided by prison staff and support agencies in reducing recidivism and turning around the lives of inmates to enable them to reenter society.

On jobs, Ministry of Justice officials were unable to supply all of the information requested, but advised that they employ a total of 206 full-time (80%) and part-time (20%) staff, both operational (prison officers) and non-operational (ancillary roles). Of these over half, 110, reside in the local LL18 postal district. However this excludes the number of staff engaged at this prison who are employed by other agencies, such as the local and regional NHS, and it was surprising to learn that ‘there is no legal requirement for MoJ to collate data relating to contractors and suppliers that work at HMP Haverigg’ so it is impossible to make a determination as to the dependence of the local supply chain on business with the prison.

On rates of recidivism, Ministry officials did not supply any specifics for the prison but instead referenced the latest national available statistics[i]. However, in a report which followed an unscheduled prison visit by inspectors in May 2021, it was recognised by HM Chief Inspector Charlie Taylor that Haverigg, in providing specialist accommodation and rehabilitation to older male sex offenders, ‘is fast becoming a very capable establishment and is progressing to a point where it soon may well be one of the better open prisons in the estate.’ It was notable that ‘All eligible prisoners had some form of purposeful activity…The employment hub was a particularly helpful service for prisoners’ and that ‘Prisoners benefited from a high standard of technical training. They developed significant new skills, knowledge and behaviours through vocational training.’[ii]

UK Government advice on the prison record that: ‘All prisoners work or train full time at Haverigg. Training and learning opportunities are focused on skills gaps in the job market and designed to improve prisoners’ chances of getting work on release. Professions include timber manufacturing, building, plastering, plumbing, industrial cleaning and agriculture. Prisoners can also train and work towards qualifications in the leisure industry through the gym’.[iii]

On community activities, Ministry officials advised that prisoners are engaged in litter picking and landscaping which has ‘received positive feedback from various community members for their impact on the local area’. The prison also holds a weekly market in Millom to promote the products made by HMP Haverigg, which has ‘significantly contributed to fostering strong relationships between the prison and the community’. Additionally, prisoners also support the local churches by maintaining church yards.

Ends://… For more information, please contact Richard Outram, NFLA Secretary by email to richard.outram@manchester.gov.uk or by mobile phone on 07583 097793

Notes to Editors


The Freedom of Information requests and responses trail (first to last)

First FOI request emailed to Ministry of Justice 6 May 2024

Dear HMP Service,

I wish to make an enquiry under the FOI Act.

I would like to ask please:

  1. How many full-time and part-time employees are employed at HMP Haverigg, as Prison Officers or in ancillary roles, all grades, all roles?

  2. How many full-time and part-time people are employed by HMP Haverigg who live in the postal district LA18 (Haverigg and Millom)?

  3. How many contractors and suppliers from the LA18 postcode support the work of the prison?

  4. If you can provide rates of recidivism for offenders leaving HMP Haverigg as opposed to other of His Majesty’s Prisons? If better than average delighted to hear this.

  5. Are there any particular examples of positive activities that prisoners from HMP Haverigg have engaged in that support the local LA18 community?

Many thanks. I look forward to your response

Thank you

Richard Outram, NFLAs Secretary

 

First FOI response from the Ministry of Justice dated 4 June 2024

Dear Richard Outram

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request – 240506002

Thank you for your request received 6 May in which you asked for the following information from the Ministry of Justice (MOJ):

[reiteration of questions from original request].

Your request is being handled under the FOIA.

We have considered your request for information, but we are unable to answer it without further clarification. Section 1(3) of the FOIA does not oblige us to answer requests where we require further clarification to identify and locate the information requested.

You may find it helpful to know that directly employed staff at HMPPS work with a number of partners including NHS commissioned staff and other parties. So that we provide you with the right information for questions 1 and 2, are you asking for this information specific to HMPPS staff who work in prisons?

On receipt of this information, we will continue to process your request.

Yours sincerely

[Name redacted by NFLAs]

HM Prison and Probation Service Briefing and Correspondence Team

 

Second FOI request sent to Ministry of Justice 4 June 2024

Dear HMPPS Correspondence Team,

In answer to your question the answer is YES in response to Question 1 and 2.

Thanks

 

Essentially asking MoJ to send details of HMPPS staff – ideally the NFLAs would have liked details of all staff incl. NHS commissioned staff and other parties by MoJ seem unable to supply this.

 

Second FOI response from the Ministry of Justice dated 1 July 2024

Dear Richard Outram

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request – 240604029

Thank you for your request received 4 June in which you clarified for questions 1 and 2 of your FOI request, you require information specific to HMPPS staff who work in prisons.

Your reference, your original request was:

[reiteration of questions from original request].

Your request is being handled under the FOIA.

We have considered your request for information, but we are unable to answer it without further clarification. Section 1(3) of the FOIA does not oblige us to answer requests where we require further clarification to identify and locate the information requested.

So that we provide you with the right information for question 4, please can you provide a timeframe for the period in which you require this data for. On receipt of this information, we will continue to process your request.

Outside of the act and on a discretionary basis, the Proven Reoffending statistics by Local Authority or Probation Region can be accessed via the following link:

Yours sincerely,

[Name redacted by NFLAs]

HM Prison and Probation Service Briefing and Correspondence Team

 

Third FOI request emailed to Ministry of Justice 1 July 2024

Dear K Durham,

Please remove my request for information under Question 4. I shall examine the link you kindly sent me.

I am assuming you will now be in a position to respond to Questions 1, 2, 3 and 5 based on clarification previously supplied on Questions 1 and 2?

Thank you.

 

Third FOI response from the Ministry of Justice dated 30 July 2024

Dear Richard Outram

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request – 240701017

Thank you for your request of 1 July in which your removed question 4 from your previous request (240604029).

[reiteration of questions 1, 2, 3 and 5 from original request].

Your request has been handled under the FOIA.

I can confirm that the MOJ holds the some of information that you have requested.

However, the MOJ does not hold any information in relation to question 3 of your request. This is because there is no legal requirement for MoJ to collate data relating to contractors and suppliers that work at HMP Haverigg. This responsibility lies with the contractor / supplier.

The FOIA does not oblige a public authority to create information to answer a request if the requested information is not held. The duty is to only provide the recorded information held.

Additionally, in relation to question 5, this cannot be answered by the provision of recorded information, it is not possible to handle it under the Freedom of Information Act.

It may be helpful if I explain that the FOIA gives individuals and organisations the right of access to all types of recorded information held, at the time the request is received, by public authorities such as the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). Section 84 of the FOIA states that in order for a request for information to be handled as a FOI request, it must be for recorded information. ‘Recorded information’ includes printed 2 documents, computer files, letters, emails, photographs, and sound or video recordings.

The FOIA does not cover information that is in someone’s head. For example, a FOI request would be for a copy of a policy, rather than an explanation as to why we have that policy in place, or actions that have taken place as a result. On occasion, the MoJ receives requests that do not ask for recorded information, but ask more general questions about, for example, a policy, opinion, action, or a decision. When this is the case, we respond as official correspondence rather than as a FOI request. You can find further details at the ICO website.

For the avoidance of doubt, we are responding to question 5 of your enquiry as official correspondence.

I have provided the information for questions 1 and 2 below.


Outside of the FOIA, and in relation to question 5 of your request, prisoners at HMP Haverigg work with the local council in Millom and Haverigg, engaging in activities such as gardening, litter picking, and landscaping outside of their official duties. These initiatives have received positive feedback from various community members for their impact on the local area. Moreover, the prison holds a weekly market in Millom to promote the products made by HMP Haverigg, which has significantly contributed to fostering strong relationships between the prison and the community. Additionally, prisoners from HMP Haverigg also support the local churches by taking care of the church yards to ensure they are well-maintained.



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