Government to permanently take over running prison

The government took over the running of HMP Lowdham Grange amid safety fears

The government is to permanently take over the running of a prison in Nottinghamshire months after a damning report.

In August, an inspection at HMP Lowdham Grange found a number of failings, including high levels of violence and self-harm.

The government took over the Category B jail on an interim basis in December.

It has now announced that taking over permanently "is the best way to ensure that improvements continue".

Earlier this year, a report revealed that more than 120 staff at the prison had resigned, with about 600 litres of illicitly-brewed alcohol, or "hooch", recently seized.

The prisons minister, Edward Argar, has announced that terms have, in principle, been agreed to enable the prison to be brought under permanent public control.

Lowdham Grange, which had been run by Sodexo before the government took over, has been privately run since the 1990s.

Mr Argar said: "Given the very specific issues at HMP Lowdham Grange, we took swift action to step-in and improve conditions and safety by providing extra support.

"The majority of private prisons perform well, including others Sodexo runs, but it has become clear that taking over permanently is the best way to ensure that improvements continue."

Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.