Inspectors have delivered a damning report on a Salford prison run by a private company. They say HMP Forest Bank is "unable to fulfil its role successfully".
Education provision at the Agecroft jail is "inadequate" and prisoners are locked in their cells most of the day with limited access to the gym and library.
The Chief Inspector of Prisons, says despite this "leaders show limited ambition to improve the situation". Prison staff, the report says, are "disillusioned" and officer retention rates poor.
The report, published today, is a major setback for the management of the prison. In January the Manchester Evening News reported Sodexo, the company which runs it was to keep the contract for now after beefing up security and carrying out a major refurbishment.
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