NATIONAL prisons' chief Martin Narey returned to the North-East yesterday to open a new facility at his former workplace.
The director general of the Prisons Service came back to Frankland Jail, near Durham City, to launch its listener support room.
Mr Narey, from Middlesbrough, was governor at Frankland for four years during the 1980s.
Since taking the helm in the Prisons Service, Mr Narey has attached importance to reducing the number of deaths in custody.
The new service at Frankland, a 20-year-old top security jail taking category A and B inmates, is designed to support prisoners considered at risk of self-harm.
Mr Narey said it provides more comforting surroundings in which to pass on bad news to an inmate, such as a family bereavement.
Two inmates, both trained as "listeners", will share the facility with the "at-risk" prisoner.
Mr Narey said: "Experience shows that, on receipt of bad news, such as a death in the family, a prisoner at risk of self-harm is less likely to in these surroundings."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article