Lowdham Grange Prison Profile

HMP Lowdham Grange is a Category B men’s prison with a capacity of 888 inmates. Opened in 1998, it is located in the Nottinghamshire village of Lowdham and privately run by Serco. Recent news at the prison includes the suspension of officers for alleged violence against inmates, the death of an inmate after he reportedly took spice and the discovery of a mobile phone used by a gang boss to speak to his six-year-old daughter.

Lowdham Prison Accommodation and Facilities

There are three house-blocks, two of which consist of four wings. Residential units have two tiers with 62 to 81 cells on each spur. Most cells are single

occupancy and some have en-suite showers. House-Block 3 has two cells which can accommodate disabled inmates, with wheelchair access, and four observation cells for vulnerable prisoners. Inmates at Lowdham Grange Prison are serving sentences of at least 4 years, with at least 12 months left to serve. Facilities include workshops, national vocation courses including bricklaying, plumbing, electrician and industrial cleaning and offending courses such as Thinking Skills and RESOLVE. There is a multi-faith chaplaincy, psychology and counselling support, a ‘Buddies’ scheme and drug treatment services. Activities available to inmates include badminton, basketball, circuit training, weight training and weight loss programs.

Officers Suspended for Alleged Violence Against Inmates

It was reported in March 2018 that prison officers at Lowdham Grange were suspended and an investigation was launched following allegations of violence against inmates. Four officers have been suspended after an alleged incident after which a man was taken to hospital and an assault was reported. Serco said the allegations had been reported to police while it carried out an internal investigation. Serco contract director at the jail said: “We expect the highest standards of behaviour from all our staff and we take any allegation of violence extremely seriously.”

Lowdham Grange Inmate had “Spice Attack” Before He Died

An inquest in February 2018 heard that an inmate at Lowdham Grange said he was having a “spice attack” before he died at the jail. It was said to be “common knowledge” that Mr King had taken the former legal high spice on the day he died. An inmate said Mr King has taken the Mamba Challenge, which involved inhaling spice through a glass pipe, causing the user to vomit and turn “as white as a ghost”.

Drug Boss Caught with Mobile Phone at Lowdham Grange

In April 2018, it was reported that a drug boss was caught with an illegal mobile phone which he had been using to chat with his six-year-old daughter. Paul Wright, who was jailed for 17 years for a brutal attack on a man who used Wright’s heroin instead of selling it, was found with a Samsung Galaxy under his bed. Sentencing Wright to an additional six months in prison, the judge said: “It is a serious offence because it is a valuable device and a valuable commodity in a custodial setting. It can be utilised either by the possessor of that phone or by others for nefarious means.”

Lowdham Grange Contact Details

The address is HMP Lowdham Grange, Old Epperstone Road, Lowdham, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG14 7DA. The phone number is 0115 966 9200. The director is Mark Hanson and the controller is Trudy McCaffery. You can also find more details by visiting the HMP Lowdham Grange page.

References

http://www.justice.gov.uk/contacts/prison-finder/lowdham-grange

https://insidetime.org/hmp-lowdham-grange-prison-regime-info/

https://www.prisonphone.co.uk/external/lowdham-grange/9v6rfp

https://www.prisonphone.co.uk/external/lowdham-grange/upobl8

https://www.prisonphone.co.uk/external/lowdham-grange/2xnqmf