| Location | Lowdham, Nottinghamshire |
|---|---|
| Status | Operational |
| Security class | Category B Male Training |
| Capacity | 920 (March 2011) |
| Opened | 1998 |
| Managed by | Serco Group |
| Director | Gareth Sands |
HM Prison Lowdham Grange is a Category B men's private prison, located in the village of Lowdham (near Nottingham) in Nottinghamshire, England. The prison is operated by the Serco Group.
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Lowdham Grange Prison was opened as a privately financed, design, constructed and managed prison in 1998. Soon after the jail opening, it emerged that one of Lowdham Grange's new prisoner custody officers had previously been employed as a security guard for the gangster Reggie Kray. The officer subsequently resigned from his post at the prison.[1]
In 2004, the National Audit Office praised the prison as one of seven prisons providing exceptionally good value.[2]
Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons carried out an inspection of Lowdham Grange in March 2011 and reported "It is commendable that Lowdham Grange continues to improve, develop and innovate. It has done so despite a significant growth in population and an increase in the numbers of potentially very challenging prisoners. There are, of course, a number of areas where further improvement is required, but overall this inspection found Lowdham Grange to be not only a safe and decent place, but also among the most impressive category B training prisons in the system". |url=http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/inspectorate-reports/hmipris/hmp-lowdham-grange-2011.pdf|
In January 2011 Lowdham Grange's Independent Monitoring Board reported "The IMB is satisfied that HMP Lowdham Grange has been managed and operated well during the year and that prisoners have been treated with appropriate respect".|url=http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/corporate-reports/imb/annual-reports-2011/lowdham-grange-2011.pdf|
In June 2006 a prisoner serving 10 years for burglary escaped from Lowdham Grange by hiding in a shipment of chef hats, which are manufactured in the prison's workshop.[3]
In May 2008 it was announced that the Lowdham Grange Prison is to be expanded by more than a third. The £52 million project, completed in 2010, created 260 more cells, a two-storey activities building, as well as the expansion and refurbishment of prisons existing buildings.[4]
In September 2009, Lowdham Grange Prison was awarded Level Four status by the National Offender Management Service for exceptional delivery.
Lowdham Grange is a Category B closed training prison for adult males serving both determinate and non-determinate sentences (ISP). Accommodation at the prison consists mainly of single occupancy cells, with some double cells. Some cells (40%) have en-suite shower facilities.
The prison offers workshops, education and training for inmates in areas such as bricklaying, plumbing, electronics, and industrial cleaning. All work and training programmes can lead to NVQ qualifications in related fields.
There is a Visitor Centre outside the main gate at Lowdham Grange. There are refreshment facilities available in the Visits Hall inside the prison. Both the Visitor Centre and Visits Hall have full access for disabled visitors.
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