00:00What is now a resettlement prison for young and adult male offenders
00:04will soon become exclusive to sex offenders, including men convicted of rape.
00:10From next month, HMP Rochester will house only male prisoners convicted of sexual offences.
00:16The prison began accepting sexual offenders as of March last year,
00:19keeping them separated from the rest of the prison population.
00:22But the Ministry of Justice plans to take this one step further by creating a single
00:27establishment dedicated entirely to this group of prisoners,
00:30who plans to even merge with another local prison, HMP Cook and Wood.
00:35The announcement has raised questions from some members of the local community,
00:39particularly about the prison's proximity to residential areas and nearby schools.
00:43Well, I don't agree that all male offenders need to go into one segregated prison,
00:48especially when you've got schools around here.
00:51If you've got the school kids come, when they all get released in the morning,
00:53they're walking past all these schools that are next door to the prison.
00:55Literally, obviously, there's one right there, there's one there.
00:59Yeah, you could say we've got all these young girls walking down the road,
01:02down the school in the morning, and you've got sex offenders.
01:03I'm not particularly happy about it at all.
01:07Like I said, I've got a young granddaughter staying with me,
01:11and I wouldn't like the idea of them being over there.
01:14But the Ministry of Justice says that the changes are designed to create a more stable environment
01:19for both staff and prisoners. In a letter, the Minister of State said that this transition
01:24to a prison holding only male sex offenders is part of ongoing work to ensure prison accommodation
01:30is used in the most effective way to meet operational needs. A prison focused on a single cohort
01:35will provide a more stable operating environment, allowing staff to focus services and interventions
01:42on the needs of that population. And despite the change, Rochester will remain a closed Category
01:47C prison with the same security arrangements in place. A Category C prison is a standard,
01:53secure, enclosed facility where prisoners are deemed unlikely to escape. They often have high walls,
01:59fencing with wires on, and extreme perimeter control security. The changes come as Rochester
02:05already faces scrutiny over conditions inside the prison. A recent report highlighted concerns about
02:11illegal drugs, violence, bullying, and declining opportunities for education. However, the report
02:17did say that the prison adapted well to the introduction of sex offenders last year. The Ministry of Justice has
02:23been approached for comment. And with the changes due to take effect next month, questions remain over how the
02:29plans will affect the prison and the local community. Naila Mahamud for KMTV in Rochester.
