Prison farms are out of date, says inspector

13 October 1998

Prison farms are out of date, says inspector

THE prison farm system is out of date and uneconomic, claims a new report by the Chief Inspector of Prisons.

Sir David Ramsbotham said that the 35 farms run by the Prison Service are unviable and should be re-examined for value for money.

Sir David called for a review of the farms future after an inspection of Everthorpe prison near Kingston upon Hull.

He found that the farms dairy herd looked poor with veterinary bills of more than £10,000 a year.

The prison had run out of silage and the irrigation system was vandalised.