HMP ISLE of Wight celebrated its first year at a dedication service led by the Vice Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight, Sir Guy Ackland.

Present at the dedication were the High Sheriff, Mrs Gay Edwards; Chief Fire Officer, Paul Street; Director of Public Health and Chief Medical Advisor, Dr Jenifer Smith; Cllr Dawn Cousins; Mr. Nigel Hawley from IMB; Chief Inspector of Police, Mr. Paul Savill and Chamber of Commerce Group Marketing Manager, Ms Zoe Stroud.

Also present were Prison Governor, Barry Greenberry, Dougie Graham, Steve Sallis, Richard Knowles, Neil Borton, John Baxendale, Mark West, Colin Craven and John Wilcox.

HMP Isle of Wight is a long term Category B training prison based on three sites; previously Albany, Parkhurst and Camphill prisons. It holds up to 1698 prisoners, employs 1000 staff and is now officially the largest establishment in the country.

Prison Governor Barry Greenberry said: “Prisoners cell cards now have Mr. on them and prisoners are no longer routinely called by their surnames only. The average stay in segregation has fallen from 260 days to 47.

“Joining up the three sites populations has seen more progressive transfers from Parkhurst site to Camp Hill site. Each site has an elected prison council, which are engaging prisoners in finding solutions to current problems and proposing improvements to our ability to reduce reoffending.

“We believe that not only are we managing individuals but shaping a community. The prison takes its inspiration from those sink estates which have successfully changed from places of graffiti, drug taking, poor health and marked by criminal and anti-social behaviour to decent places where people succeed.

“The prison has established a number of flagship projects designed to bring multi function, multi site and multi organisation staff together around improvements such as culture change, better managers, better regime, heritage centre project, dragons den older prisoners project etc. There has been a much more joined up working with the local IW Council and other Island organisations such as the chamber of commerce, local housing groups, social services and older prisoners support groups.

“The prison has changed considerably. The managers and staff have had the courage to introduce new ways of working and have done so without a major incident or escape.”