Gordon Lakes
Encyclopedia
Gordon Harry Lakes MC
(August 27, 1928 – April 23, 2006) was a former Deputy Director General in the UK Prison Service. He is credited with helping to achieve improved working conditions among UK prisons.
, Yorkshire, in 1928. After training at Sandhurst
he saw action in the Korean War
with the Northumberland Fusiliers and was awarded the Military Cross
.
He joined the UK Prison Service in 1961 as an assistant governor. After working at several different prisons and gaining experience, he used his expertise to analyse causes of staffing problems.
Put in charge of Gartree prison in 1975, he improved the management structure. He was then transferred to Prisons HQ to apply his knowledge to help improve the prison service as a whole. This he did as Deputy Director General, helping achieve consensus between unions and management on difficult issues.
In 1987 Lakes was granted a CB.
Following his official retirement, Lakes spent another 15 years helping to resolve further prison crises. He also worked in Europe, for example in reviewing security following five murders in Swedish prisons, and advised on rebuilding the prison systems in the Baltic States.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(August 27, 1928 – April 23, 2006) was a former Deputy Director General in the UK Prison Service. He is credited with helping to achieve improved working conditions among UK prisons.
Life and career
Gordon Lakes was born in BridlingtonBridlington
Bridlington is a seaside resort, minor sea fishing port and civil parish on the Holderness Coast of the North Sea, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It has a static population of over 33,000, which rises considerably during the tourist season...
, Yorkshire, in 1928. After training at Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
he saw action in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
with the Northumberland Fusiliers and was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
.
He joined the UK Prison Service in 1961 as an assistant governor. After working at several different prisons and gaining experience, he used his expertise to analyse causes of staffing problems.
Put in charge of Gartree prison in 1975, he improved the management structure. He was then transferred to Prisons HQ to apply his knowledge to help improve the prison service as a whole. This he did as Deputy Director General, helping achieve consensus between unions and management on difficult issues.
In 1987 Lakes was granted a CB.
Following his official retirement, Lakes spent another 15 years helping to resolve further prison crises. He also worked in Europe, for example in reviewing security following five murders in Swedish prisons, and advised on rebuilding the prison systems in the Baltic States.