Prison status clash

Rumours have already been circulating among the community in Hatfield about a possible switch from being a Category C jail to Category B, sparking concerns from community leaders.

And The Star has been told talks have been held over what would be needed to be done to change that to the higher security Category B.

The Prison Service says there are no plans at the moment to make the switch.

Category B offenders are inmates who have committed more serious offences, and it would mean the jail could house murderers rated as more dangerous than those currently there as a Category C jail.

Unions have admitted they have been consulted over the possibility of changing the status of the jail and the resources which would be needed for any change. Talks have been held with the governor.

Prison Officers Association branch secretary Rick Midgley said: "With a change would come resource requirements, and we don't know what they would be."

All adult male prisoners are classified on entry into prison and put into one of four security categories based on the likelihood of escape and the risk to the public if they did. There are four security categories for adult male prisoners – A, B, C, and D.

Category A is for prisoners whose escape would be considered highly dangerous to the public, or a threat to national security, B is for prisoners for whom escape must be made very difficult, C is for prisoners who cannot be trusted in open conditions and D is for prisoners who can be reasonably trusted in open conditions.

Thorne Coun Martin Williams, whose ward includes the jail, said he had heard strong rumours of a regrading.

He said: "We've not had many problems with the prisoners who are already here. But we already have three prisons in a close area, with Moorland, Lindholme and Hatfield Open.

"If they want more prisons, why don't they build one in the Home Counties, in Tunbridge Wells or Epsom? I think we've got enough. The category of prisoner we have here seems to work well as it is.

"The people of this area are not going to want a higher category of prisoner here. Strong rumours have been going round about this and I would be unhappy if the category was changed to a higher risk. We don't want it."