Stoke Heath young offenders institute in job losses fear
Tuesday 1st February 2011, 1:32PM GMT.
Shropshire’s young offenders institute could lose its unit for juveniles, and the 202 youngsters moved to two other sites, putting up to 60 jobs at risk.
Staff at Stoke Heath Young Offenders Institution, near Market Drayton, have been told its juveniles could be moved under the plans over the next six months.
Governors now fear the 60 members of staff who look after the youngsters, aged 15 to 18, could lose their jobs as part of the “decommissioning” plans.
One serving prison officer, who asked not to be named, claimed it would not save any cash but in fact cost taxpayers even more money.
He said: “We’ve been told by the Youth Justice Board that they are going to decommission the 202 juvenile places within the next six months. This would mean we wouldn’t need as many staff so there could be redundancies.
“They said it would be a cost-cutting exercise. Our budget for 202 places is £6 million but at Werrington, where they want to send them, it is £8.5 million.
“Stoke Heath is £20,000 cheaper per prisoner per year,” he said.
“It’s going to cost the taxpayer more to send them to other places.”
The prison officer said the loss of the places would mean they could have to re-role to take on criminals aged 18 to 24 to fill the places.
A Prison Service spokesman said: “We are currently reviewing future capacity requirements in light of the Ministry of Justice’s spending review settlement and the need to deliver significant savings.
“All decisions about capacity in future will be based on a wide range of factors, including issues such as operating costs and maintenance issues, as well as the geographic and strategic function.”
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