Lindholme (HM Prison)
Encyclopedia
HM Prison Lindholme is a Category C
men's prison
and Immigration Removal Centre
, located near Hatfield Woodhouse in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster
, South Yorkshire
, England
. Lindholme is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service
, and is situated in close proximity to Hatfield and Moorland prisons.
during the Second World War to house and operate bomber
s. During the RAF stations lifetime it was home to the RAF Bomber Command Bombing School (BCBS) and also the RAF Navigation School. BCBS moved out in 1972, and RAF Lindholme became a radar installation with its hangars converted for storage, eventually being downgraded to a relief glider landing field and closing altogether shortly thereafter. The site re-opened as a prison in 1985. Most of the original buildings and hangar
s from the RAF station are still in use as prison accommodation, offices and workshops. In 2000 The old RAF Officers Mess building (which had been used as a Category D prison wing) was converted into an Immigration Removal Centre.
A damning report into the treatment of detainees at Lindholme Immigration Removal Centre was made in February 2004, stating that living conditions were poor and movement around the centre was restricted unnecessarily. It was reported that one member of staff described north African detainees as “donkeys”, and often made "animal sounds” at all detainees. Other members of staff were not reported to have expressed racist attitudes. However, the report highlighted that the staff were not appropriately educated to understand the needs of those held in immigration removal centres. An unannounced follow up inspection in July 2007 reported some positive changes as well as many areas still in need of essential improvements. One of Inspector's criticisms, highlighted in the press was the use of wooden staves to enforce discipline.
On July 14th 2011, it was announced that HMP Lindholme would be put out to tender, accepting bids from private companies and HM Prison Service for the management of the establishment.
The Category C site consists of 10 wings, 6 of the which are dormitories that have single and multi occupancy rooms. 3 wings are relatively new additions to the prison and are single cell occupancy. A further new wing opened in November 2007 with double cell designs incorporating in cell showers. The prison education department offers inmates opportunities to study for qualifications such as NVQs, GCSEs and A Levels in subjects including English, Maths, ESOL, information technology, business administration, graphic design, reprographics and printing, visual art, catering, baking, hospitality, hairdressing and barbering, industrial cleaning, construction industry training in trowel trades, plastering, painting and decorating, carpentry, plumbing, civil engineering, Fork lift training, light engineering, railway engineering, horticulture, waste management, textiles, and a range of PE courses.
The Immigration Removal Centre consists of two living units, as well as two separate ‘safe' cells. The accommodation comprises double and triple occupancy rooms, with shower cubicles and sanitation on each landing. Rooms are furnished with beds, lockers, chairs, televisions and sinks, as well as each landing having its own association room with television. There are also telephones available for use by detainees on the living units. Detainees have a key to their room, and have the liberty of the landing at all times. The living units are unlocked from 0800 - 12.30, 13.45 - 17.30, and 18.00 - 19.30, during which hours detainees have the freedom of the centre. Recreational activities available within the centre include a games room; a large television room; a gym
; an ‘Activities Centre' which includes a library
and offers English and information technology classes. The Centre also has a multi-faith room, a chapel
, and a full size grass football pitch.
Prison security categories in the United Kingdom
There are four prisoner security categories in the United Kingdom used to classify every adult prisoner for the purposes of assigning them to a prison. The categories are based upon the severity of the crime and the risk posed should the person escape....
men's prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
and Immigration Removal Centre
Immigration detention
Immigration detention is the policy of holding individuals suspected of visa violations, illegal entry or unauthorised arrival, and those subject to deportation and removal in detention until a decision is made by immigration authorities to grant a visa and release them into the community, or to...
, located near Hatfield Woodhouse in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster
Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster
The Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster is a metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire in Yorkshire and the Humber Region of England.In addition to the town of Doncaster, the borough covers Mexborough, Conisbrough, Thorne and Finningley....
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Lindholme is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service
Her Majesty's Prison Service
Her Majesty's Prison Service is a part of the National Offender Management Service of the Government of the United Kingdom tasked with managing most of the prisons within England and Wales...
, and is situated in close proximity to Hatfield and Moorland prisons.
History
The site was originally constructed as RAF LindholmeRAF Lindholme
RAF Lindholme is a former Royal Air Force base near Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England and was initially called RAF Hatfield Woodhouse.-Early years:...
during the Second World War to house and operate bomber
Bomber
A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, by dropping bombs on them, or – in recent years – by launching cruise missiles at them.-Classifications of bombers:...
s. During the RAF stations lifetime it was home to the RAF Bomber Command Bombing School (BCBS) and also the RAF Navigation School. BCBS moved out in 1972, and RAF Lindholme became a radar installation with its hangars converted for storage, eventually being downgraded to a relief glider landing field and closing altogether shortly thereafter. The site re-opened as a prison in 1985. Most of the original buildings and hangar
Hangar
A hangar is a closed structure to hold aircraft or spacecraft in protective storage. Most hangars are built of metal, but other materials such as wood and concrete are also sometimes used...
s from the RAF station are still in use as prison accommodation, offices and workshops. In 2000 The old RAF Officers Mess building (which had been used as a Category D prison wing) was converted into an Immigration Removal Centre.
A damning report into the treatment of detainees at Lindholme Immigration Removal Centre was made in February 2004, stating that living conditions were poor and movement around the centre was restricted unnecessarily. It was reported that one member of staff described north African detainees as “donkeys”, and often made "animal sounds” at all detainees. Other members of staff were not reported to have expressed racist attitudes. However, the report highlighted that the staff were not appropriately educated to understand the needs of those held in immigration removal centres. An unannounced follow up inspection in July 2007 reported some positive changes as well as many areas still in need of essential improvements. One of Inspector's criticisms, highlighted in the press was the use of wooden staves to enforce discipline.
On July 14th 2011, it was announced that HMP Lindholme would be put out to tender, accepting bids from private companies and HM Prison Service for the management of the establishment.
Lindholme today
Lindholme is a split site Category C Prison and Immigration Removal Centre, both for adult males.The Category C site consists of 10 wings, 6 of the which are dormitories that have single and multi occupancy rooms. 3 wings are relatively new additions to the prison and are single cell occupancy. A further new wing opened in November 2007 with double cell designs incorporating in cell showers. The prison education department offers inmates opportunities to study for qualifications such as NVQs, GCSEs and A Levels in subjects including English, Maths, ESOL, information technology, business administration, graphic design, reprographics and printing, visual art, catering, baking, hospitality, hairdressing and barbering, industrial cleaning, construction industry training in trowel trades, plastering, painting and decorating, carpentry, plumbing, civil engineering, Fork lift training, light engineering, railway engineering, horticulture, waste management, textiles, and a range of PE courses.
The Immigration Removal Centre consists of two living units, as well as two separate ‘safe' cells. The accommodation comprises double and triple occupancy rooms, with shower cubicles and sanitation on each landing. Rooms are furnished with beds, lockers, chairs, televisions and sinks, as well as each landing having its own association room with television. There are also telephones available for use by detainees on the living units. Detainees have a key to their room, and have the liberty of the landing at all times. The living units are unlocked from 0800 - 12.30, 13.45 - 17.30, and 18.00 - 19.30, during which hours detainees have the freedom of the centre. Recreational activities available within the centre include a games room; a large television room; a gym
Gym
The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
; an ‘Activities Centre' which includes a library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
and offers English and information technology classes. The Centre also has a multi-faith room, a chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
, and a full size grass football pitch.