MP’s claim of chaos denied by prison

John Mann called on Prisons Minister Jeremy Wright to meet him over the alleged problems at HMP Ranby, near Retford, after making the claim at a monthly question and answer session in the House of Commons.

The Labour MP for Bassetlaw also said a lecturer at the Category C prison had been “sacked using fabricated evidence” and a prison officer, Steve Casey, resigned following the “illegal use of CCTV” to mount a case against him.

He said: “Now, I understand, a senior manager has been convicted of a firearms offence but not sacked. Will the Minister meet me to discuss the managerial chaos at Ranby prison?”

Mr Wright said he could not comment on the claims on the basis of what he knew, but added: “I will certainly look into them and come back to him as to what we think can best be done.”

HMP Ranby is classed as an “adult working prison” for those who cannot be trusted in open conditions but are unlikely to try to escape.

Mr Mann has previously raised the case of Rebecca Knighton, the lecturer at Ranby allegedly sacked using fabricated evidence, during a Commons debate in January.

He said: “She was drummed out on false premises that were without question made up, as confirmed by my own investigation, because her face did not fit.

“She cannot work throughout the prison service again because she is on a list as being a security threat.”

A spokeswoman for the Prison Service said: “It is absolutely untrue that there is ‘managerial chaos’ at HMP Ranby.

“One member of staff was dismissed for working while on long-term sick leave last year, while another was given a warning in 2008 for being in possession of a shotgun without a licence.”

She added that Rebecca Knighton was an employee of a local college and not of HMP Ranby.