HMP Oakwood, under construction as Featherstone 2 |
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| Location | Wolverhampton |
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| Status | Under construction |
| Security class | Category C |
| Capacity | 1,605 |
| Opened | April 2012 (projected) |
| Managed by | G4S |
| Director | Steve Holland |
HM Prison Oakwood, is a Category C prison located near Wolverhampton in the West Midlands of the United Kingdom. It is operated by G4S and is aimed to be in full operation by autumn 2012. Originally called Featherstone 2, and designed to be a titan prison, it was downsized to hold up to 1,605 prisoners with construction starting in August 2009 and built in a modular fashion, the first time this had been done in the UK. Following the announcement that it would be contracted out to a private company along with HMP Birmingham, the Prison Officers Association threatened industrial action.
Projected initially as being a titan prison, and holding up to 2,500 offenders, it was downsized following the cancellation of the titan scheme.[1] It was estimated at costing around £180million, and described in the press as a "superprison",[2] the prison is located next to existing prisons HMP Featherstone and HMYOI Brinsford and is being constructed by Kier Build.[2][3] Building the prison at that location required additional road remodelling to cope with an anticipated additional 1,400 rush hour journeys down local roads. The A460 Cannock Road was remodelled at the junction with New Road in Featherstone, but the local council was criticized in the local press for not going far enough with the changes.[2]
Pre-construction on the prison site began in August 2009. The prison is the first to be built in a modular fashion in the UK, with pre-construction sections put it in place that contain plumbing, electricity and fire alarm systems. The modules first arrived in February 2010, which formed the energy centre for the project. Once completed, the prison will comprise of three house blocks and 13 other buildings.[4]
Although reported by some media outlets as being sold,[1][5] it was contracted out to private service provider G4S in March 2011, for a period of fifteen years, along with HMP Birmingham, to become G4S’ fifth and sixth prisons in England and Wales.[6] Secretary of State for Justice Kenneth Clarke announced the outcome of the bidding process in the House of Commons, stating that Featherstone 2 would come in at £31million less than announced by the previous government.[7]
Following the announcement, the Prison Officers Association announced that its members were "angry" at the privatisation of public prisons. The association balloted it’s members to find out if they wanted to take industrial action over the issue, stating, "It is important to gauge the view of our members through the ballot box, and if it is their will the POA will take clear and decisive action against the privatisation of Birmingham and Featherstone 2."[8] Steve Gillian, the general secretary of the POA, said that "This is a disgraceful decision which is politically driven and morally repulsive."[9] The military were placed on standby should the POA take the threatened strike action.[9]
Clarke was questioned in the Commons at the time of the announcement by constituency MP Gavin Williamson regarding the levels of staff training provided to the new prison compared to the two other publically run prisons also located nearby. He said in response to the query, "That is provided for in the contract and I very much hope it will be the case. Like my hon. Friend, I have great optimism about the future of Featherstone 2. It is very good that we have that kind of investment coming on stream so that we can help to modernise the service in all possible ways. The proper training and support of staff is a key part of delivering the contract properly."[10] John McDonnell, MP for the Hayes and Harlington constituency later asked
The prison was officially named Oakwood in December 2011, named after an oak tree in which Charles II was reputed to have hidden from Oliver Cromwell’s troops during the English Civil War, nearby in Boscobel Wood.[3]
Projected to open in April 2012,[6] it is aimed for the prison to be at full operation by the autumn, with a capacity of 1,605 prisoners in category c conditions.[3] Steve Holland was announced by operators G4S as the first Director of the establishment. He said of the role, "This is the most exciting role I can imagine and I feel privileged to have been given this opportunity to lead this project".[3]
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