A DAMNING report today blasted conditions at a jail where four East Lancashire men have killed themselves in the past two years - and called for a new training programme to teach staff how to deal with suicidal prisoners.

The official Government inspection of Preston Prison revealed a dossier of faults and criticised the "wholly inappropriate attitude" of some employees.

It has recommended that a comprehensive training programme is introduced to educate staff on how to deal with suicidal prisoners.

And it has also called for the role of the the prison's Suicide Awareness Co-ordinator to be reviewed.

The publication of the report follows widespread concern by Burnley MP Peter Pike and Pendle's Gordon Prentice into the number of East Lancashire prisoners who have killed themselves. They have been urging Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw to launch an inquiry into the prison deaths.

Steven Nuttall, 22, of Brierfield; Alan Ratcliffe, 53, of Burnley Road, Blackburn; Andrew Pounder, 25, of Parkinson Street, Burnley and Jason McVeagh, 27, of Scotland Road, Nelson, have each been found dead in their cells since 1997. In each case a coroner has recorded a verdict that the men, who were all remand prisoners, had killed themselves.

In his report, Sir David Ramsbotham, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons, said: "Until every member of staff employed at Preston learnt the importance of approaching prisoners in their care to check on their well-being and to treat them with the courtesy and respect due to another human being, we felt that levels of self-harm would not significantly diminish." He added that staff who opposed the necessary changes, those who remained indolent and those who resorted to delaying tactics should be challenged and if necessary removed from their jobs

His report also criticised:

The gatehouse, designed for horse-drawn traffic, which is unsuitable for modern vehicles.

Cramped conditions in the reception area.

The temporary portable cabins which are used for visits.

Highly unsatisfactory health centre.

Apart from training staff to cope with suicidal prisoners, Sir David said bosses should also publish a strategy for dealing with prisoners in distress and at risk of self-harm. He said the Suicide Awareness Co-ordinator should be asked to investigate the trigger points behind every "self-harm" incident.

But Sir David said there had been "considerable progress" since the last inspection in 1996 and praised the management team. He also paid tribute to the professional attitude of reception staff and the prison's work with sex offenders, drug misusers and prisoners suffering from depression.

He said the prison was in desperate need of cash and said current funding arrangements were inadequate.

Martin Narey, Director General of the Prison Service, said more than £3million had been committed to improve buildings over the next year.

He said: "Preston has suffered industrial relations problems, however the vast majority of staff are positive and professional."

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