Stafford prisoners stuck behind bars years after release date

Around 40 inmates in the sex offender jail, which housed notorious paedophile Rolf Harris until his release earlier this year, are still locked up despite their release date having passed. The number was similar this time last year when the issue was raised by an Independent Monitoring Board (IMB), which has raised the issue every year since 2011.

Some prisoners remain stuck behind bars because they were given a now outlawed IPP order when sent to jail, meaning they cannot be released until a parole board has agreed they are no longer a danger.

The circumstance has been branded unfair and inhumane by the IMB report, with the board also warning that it is causing increased 'tension and resentment'.

The IMB's report, released on Thursday, states: "The Board was extremely frustrated that prisoners held under IPP terms had been noted as a concern on the Annual Report every year since 2011.

"It was not just treatment to detain prisoners post their release date; it was both unfair and inhumane. This treatment could only increase tension and resentment in this group. In the last reporting period 6.7 per cent of the population in custody at HMP Stafford were IPP prisoners. Of these, 80 per cent were post tariff." The prison caters for 751category C sex offenders.

Sally Osborne-Town, the chair of the IMB for Stafford, told the Express & Star: "IPPs are a problem in prisons nationally and the government are just now beginning to look at it properly.

"Prison staff keep a watchful eye on the IPP prisoners but ultimately it is down to the parole board and they are very risk adverse.

"HMP Stafford is an extremely open and transparent prison, however the parole board is not."

The IMB also raised concerns over the availability of sex offender training programmes, but the prison was otherwise praised for making vast improvements over the past year.

The IMB said: "The board is pleased that the prison has created a safe and clean environment in which there is an improving focus on education, training, healthcare and rehabilitation. With nearly 100 per cent of prisoners gainfully employed inside and a wide range of roles of responsibility on offer (for example caring for ill, frail prisoners or painting the wings), HMP Stafford seems to be bucking the trend of negative reports about British prisons."

Ms Osborne-Town added: "It is a prison that people feel safe in, which is not something you normally hear from prisoners.

"That is not to say it is perfect but it is a very different environment compared to other prisons."