AN "INFLUX" of prisoners from Manchester and Liverpool has resulted in a sharp increase in violence at HMP Berwyn, according to a report.

Earlier this month, the prison's Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) published its annual report for the year of March 1, 2022 to February 28, 2023.

In it, one of the board's main findings is that in early 2023, incidents of violence increased - "substantially due to a changed and more disruptive cohort of prisoners, and the difficulties of housing prisoners who need to be separated, such as those from Liverpool and Manchester."

The report explains: "Generally, prisoners report to the board that they feel safe. "However, since Operation Safeguard was introduced in February 2023 an influx from Manchester and Liverpool, including out-of-area remand prisoners, and a more complex gang membership, has led to an increase in violence. 

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"The prison is near capacity, so it is more difficult to separate people, and violence increased sharply in February 2023. 

"Measures to deal with this are being implemented, but will take time to show results. 

"A safer custody group meets daily and monthly, attended by members of the senior management team.

"Because of a backlog of prisoners who are due to transfer to secure institutions, there has sometimes been limited space in the segregation unit to house prisoners who have been moved there for their own safety."

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And the report states the intake of inmates from those areas is affecting efforts to crack down on illicit items from getting into the establishment.

The document explains: "The work on reducing the entry of illicit items, including by drone, is being hampered by the influx of prisoners with gang affiliations being brought from Manchester and Liverpool. 

"These gangs have extensive networks and can intimidate and coerce prisoners and their visitors, and operate drone drops."

A Prison Service spokesperson confirmed to the leader that 'enhanced Gate Security at HMP Berwyn is protecting the prison against attempts to smuggle illicit items, through the routine searching of staff, the use of drug dogs and metal detectors.'

The service also stated: "Much of the period covered by this report was when HMP Berwyn was under COVID restrictions and conditions have improved substantially since, with staff retention rates up 50 per cent, tougher security measures to boost safety and a new drug recovery wing helping prisoners get clean.”