Vandals have struck again at Forest Bank prison in Salford, damaging three cars belonging to staff. Police have been informed and are in investigating the attack, according to the prison. It follows a similar wrecking spree in July when another three cars were vandalised.
In the latest incident, three staff cars were damaged happened on Friday night in the car park outside the prison. It is not known whether the two incidents are linked.
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A source familiar with the prison said the motivation for the latest attack appeared to concern tensions among staff rather than inmates.
A spokesperson for the privately-operated HMP Forest Bank told the M.E.N: "We can confirm three cars were damaged in the prison car park on Friday evening. The matter has been reported to the police."
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said officers were in discussion with prison bosses concerning the latest attack.
In May, the prisons' watchdog slammed the privately run prison - operated by Sodexo for the Ministry of Justice - which was 'unable to fill its role successfully'. Their report also noted 'an ongoing problem with mice'.
The damning report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons detailed 'cramped and overcrowded cells' in the category B jail. The watchdog's unannounced visit in February found the jail had 1,354 prisoners, nearly 300 above its baseline capacity.
The report was a major setback for the management of the prison. In January the Manchester Evening News reported Sodexo was to keep the contract for now after beefing up security and carrying out a major refurbishment.
This followed the issuing of a 45-day improvement notice by the government in August. The 'significant concerns and rectification notice' was slapped on the jail by the Ministry of Justice. The prison is operated by Sodexo Justice Services and if progress had been not made, the company could have lost the contract which is scheduled to run until 2025.
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