Prison had ongoing 'culture' problems - ex-director

The former director of a prison has told an inquest into the deaths of three inmates that the facility had longstanding issues.

An inquest is ongoing into the deaths of Anthony Binfield, Rolandas Karbauskas and David Richards at HMP Lowdham Grange in Nottinghamshire, all of which happened within three weeks in March 2023.

The prison had transferred from one private provider Serco, to another, Sodexo in the weeks before.

On Friday, Mark Hanson, who was director of the jail under Serco from November 2016 to January 2022, was questioned on the state of the establishment before it changed hands.

He accepted challenges around "culture" at the prison, including safety and staffing, had become more acute during the takeover period.

"This was a challenging period for the prison but the incoming contract would have been aware of the issues," he said.

Mr Hanson added in the process of developing a contract with a new provider, plans would be made to deal with any known pre-existing challenges.

Area coroner Laurinda Bower, leading the investigation, made reference to an earlier prevention of future deaths report she had issued to HMP Lowdham Grange in relation to a self-inflicted death in 2021 during the hearing.

She asked Mr Hanson why he thought "after years and years of investigations pointing out these issues" problems had continued.

"Did I do everything I could to stop these things happening? I would say yes," Mr Hanson said.

"If I thought I could have done more I would have done more."

Serco had learned it might lose the contract to run HMP Lowdham Grange in August 2022, the inquest heard.

Notes taken during a visit to the prison in November 2022, by HM Prisons and Probation Services (HMPSS), were read to the court.

They highlighted problems with cleanliness, including "filthy" cells and unchallenged inappropriate prisoner conduct – including "openly vaping" on several wings of the jail and inmates being inappropriately dressed.

Mr Hanson agreed that the staff-related issues at the prison at the time could be attributed at the time to "a loss of drive in relation to Serco's loss of the contract".

The court also heard how Serco was struggling to recruit and retain staff in the months leading to the Sodexo takeover and it was jointly agreed that Sodexo would take on this responsibility earlier than planned.

A legal representative for Sodexo also questioned Mr Hanson about the transition period.

During this time, Sodexo staff were given office space in a training facility near the prison's car park, which the inquest heard was outside the secure area.

This meant Sodexo staff relied on being granted access to the prison and "escorted round by a Serco employee".

A statement by another Serco director read to the court said they were "explicitly instructed" not to give "them [Sodexo] anything".

Mr Hanson said: "I had heard there were conversations about why access wasn't granted but I wasn't party to those conversations about why."

The inquest continues.

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