A PRISON which was rife with sexual violence and awash with contraband and illegal drugs is working to improve, a report has found.

An investigation carried out by the chief inspector of prisons has concluded conditions are gradually improving at Copeland's HMP Haverigg.

The prison's recent history has been blighted by allegations of sexual abuse, poor safety and a steady flow of contraband into the category C site.

However, since a 2016 police investigation into two deaths in custody and a serious assault, the prison population has halved from 650 inmates to 275, violence has fallen, and access to education and training has improved.

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Peter Clarke, chief inspector of prisons, said: "Haverigg has had a troubled past and there was still much to do at the establishment.

"That said, we recognise the efforts made by the governor and his team not to let that troubled past define the prison’s future."

Although improvements have been made, the recent inspection highlighted a series of continued failings.

Accommodation, communal areas and washing facilities were frequently described as "shabby" and "dirty," with recommendations made for cleaning and repair.

Contraband recovered from inmates included mobile phones and tablets; these items easily found their way into the prison after being thrown over the sprawling perimeter wall.

Prisoners were safer than they had been during the last inspection in 2014, but out of 24 recommendations made to improve only 11 had been met. Five had been partially achieved, and eight had not.

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In spite of the continued improvements needed at the jail, the head of a prison reform group was pleased with the recent report.

Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: "The prison system is in meltdown, and signs of improvement are hard to find, particularly in a jail so troubled that it has been the subject of a major police investigation for months.

"This report, however, shows what progress can be achieved when a prison has adequate resources and is operating on only half the designated population.

"It proves beyond doubt that numbers count and that overcrowding is just plain dangerous.

"There are still many problems, but it is encouraging to see that violence has fallen, support for those at risk of self-injury has improved, and most men have things to do."

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