HM Prison Parkhurst
 | |
| Location | Parkhurst, Isle of Wight |
|---|---|
| Security class | Adult Male/Category B |
| Population | 497 (as of August 2008) |
| Opened | 1805 |
| Closed | Currently Open |
| Managed by | HM Prison Services |
| Governor | Barry Greenberry |
| Website | Parkhurst at justice.gov.uk |
HMP Isle of Wight - Parkhurst Barracks is a prison situated in Parkhurst on the Isle of Wight, operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service.[1]
Isle of Wight prisons
Parkhurst prison is one of the three prisons that make up HMP Isle of Wight, the other two being Camp Hill, and Albany. Parkhurst and Albany were once amongst the few top-security prisons (called "Dispersals" because they dispersed the more troublesome prisoners rather than concentrated them all in one place) in the United Kingdom, but were downgraded in the 1990s.[1]
Camp Hill is located adjacent and to the west of Albany and Parkhurst, on the very edge of Parkhurst Forest. Originally on the site of an army camp (both Albany and Parkhurst were barracks) with a small estate of tree-lined roads with well-proportioned officer's quarters (with varying grandeur according to rank but now privately owned) to the South and East, having been converted to a borstal and later a category C prison.
Status
The downgrading of Parkhurst was preceded by a major escape: three prisoners (two murderers and a blackmailer) made their way out of the prison on 3 January 1995 to enjoy four days of freedom before being recaptured. One of them, Keith Rose, is an amateur pilot. During those four days, they were living rough in a shed in a garden in Ryde, having failed to steal a plane from the local airclub.[1]
Notoriety
Parkhurst enjoyed notoriety as one of the toughest jails in the British Isles. Many notable criminals, including the Richardson brothers,[1] the Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe,[2] Kenny Carter,[3] Moors Murderer Ian Brady,[4] Terrance John Clark (Mr Asia Drug Syndicate), and the Kray twins,[5] were incarcerated there.
Early history
Parkhurst Prison was first built as a military hospital in 1805 and was later transformed to a prison for boys awaiting deportation, mainly to Australia, as part of the Parkhurst Act of 1835. As such, it was the first land-based government prison specifically for young people in England and Wales. By 1847, a new wing (C Wing) had been built by the prisoners, digging the clay and baking the bricks themselves (this wing is still in operation today). Almost from its beginnings as a prison for young offenders, Parkhurst was subject to fierce criticism by the public, politicians and in the press for its harsh regime (including the use leg irons initially).[6] It became a particular focus of critique for reformers campaigning against the use of imprisonment for children, most notably Mary Carpenter.[7]
From 1863 to 1869, Parkhurst served as a female prison; however, after this date, it was converted to a male prison and has served as such ever since. In 1968 it became one of the first dispersal prisons. The prison remained as high security until the mid 1990s when it was downgraded to Category B.[8]
Name change
In October 2008, it was announced that the name Parkhurst could be lost, along with the two other prison names, Albany and Camphill. The three would become part of a cluster prison with one governor in charge. New names for the larger single prison have been suggested as HMP Solent, HMP Mountbatten and HMP Vectis.[9] HMP Isle of Wight was later selected as the new name for the super prison incorporating all three island prisons.[10]
The prison today
The accommodation at Parkhurst consists mainly of single cells with an operational capacity of 497. The prison takes criminals serving over four years (including vulnerable prisoners), prisoners at stage 1 or 2 of a life sentence and Isle of Wight remands.[8]
The regime at the prison includes a gymnasium of nationally recognised quality and a range of training including education up to and including Open University level. There are nine workshops dealing with upholstery, arts & crafts, laundry, wheelchair repairs, breakfast packing, Aramark, BICS Cleaning and gardens. The prison also runs ETS, CALM and CSCP offending behaviour programmes.[8]
References
- ^ a b c d "Parkhurst Prison - Eric Mason homepage". www.ericmasonuk.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
- ^ "Peter Sutcliffe: The Yorkshire Ripper - The aftermath". www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-12-08. [dead link]
- ^ "Sch News Issue 195 11 December 1998 - "INSIDE SCHNEWS"". www.schnews.org.uk. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
- ^ "Ian Brady biography". www.astrotheme.com. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
- ^ "The Kray twins at Parkhurst Prison". www.assistnews.net. Retrieved 2008-12-08. [dead link]
- ^ Hagell A and Hazel N (2001) ‘Macro and micro patterns in the development of secure custodial institutions for serious and persistent young offenders in England and Wales.’ Youth Justice 1, 1, 3-16
- ^ Carpenter, Mary (1851). Reformatory Schools: For the Children of the Perishing and Dangerous Classes and for Juvenile Offenders. London: C. Gilpin. Retrieved 5 April 2009.
- ^ a b c "HM Prison Service - Parkhurst Prison". www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
- ^ "Isle of Wight County Press - "Parkhurst name set to disappear"". www.iwcp.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-12-08. [dead link]
- ^ "Isle of Wight County Press - "Prisons to become HMP Isle of Wight"". www.iwcp.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-03-30.