Responding to the report, Director for HMP Oakwood, John McLaughlin, said:

“I welcome this report from our Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) as it underscores the challenges and complexities in opening up a new prison, especially one as large as HMP Oakwood.  As well as logistical hurdles in new establishments, prisoners test the regime and members of staff, who may be new to prison life, and I am encouraged that the IMB reports that the team responded well and that their performance has been beyond the Board’s expectations.

“There are challenges at Oakwood and we have been working hard to resolve problems with the building fabric and embed the regime.  I want to see more of our prisoners working a 40-hour week in employment or improving skills and we will be boosting our partnerships with businesses and working with the Ministry of Justice to increase educational opportunities at the prison.  We are also taking additional steps to further reduce drugs and other contraband coming into the establishment.  Ultimately, our goal is to return prisoners to their communities better equipped to turn away from crime and I am confident that Oakwood’s performance in the coming months will continue to improve.”