A HOCKLEY prison is a high performing prison a report has revealed.

The Independent Monitoring Board for HM Prison Bullwood Hall has published its Annual Report.

The report says the prison, a category C prison which holds 241 foreign nationals, provides a safe environment for prisoners and staff alike.

The prison’s management team was commended forthe work it does in resettlement of prisoners and for the “proactive health care services” it provides.

Key staff who support prisoners at risk of self-harm were also praised.

However, the board repeated the serious concerns, published in previous reports, it has over the number of prisoners held beyond the end of their sentence by order of the United Kingdom Border Agency.

It also once again raised concerns over “an archaic and unacceptable system of night sanitation”.

A prisoner has to press a button in his cell to be released to go to the toilet.

This process can lead to a considerable delay before allowing a prisoner to visit the toilet. The Board is urging the government to replace this system with one that allows unhindered access to a toilet.

Steve Bradford, governor of the prison, welcomed the mostly positive report.

He said: “I am in broad terms in agreement with the findings. The issues they raise are to do with issues at a national level. These are things we have no control over.”