SKILLS FOR JUSTICE have worked closely with HMPS as they gained prestigious Skillsmark recognition across several of their areas: The National Tactical Response Group (NTRG), Prison Service College Newbold Revel, the Regional Training Teams (RTTs), and the Prison Officer Entry Level Training (POELT) sites are all now Skillsmark-recognised providers. They join the Prison Service PE College, which achieved recognition two years ago. The Skillsmark report said several sites were "well equipped to provide quality training to meet the needs of the Prison Service".

BRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE have a new modular cell facility at their Blundell Road site. This is the latest in an increasing list of custodial facilities to have been provided in this way. We talk to the people involved and find out what new developments have been installed.

MICHAEL SPURR became the new Head of NOMS on the retirement of Phil Wheatly. We have requested an interview to ask about the way the Prison Service will adapt to the new financial reality. What the future holds with tackling recidivism and what he wants to achieve during his tenure.

HMP ALTCOURSE was the first designed, constructed, managed and financed private prison in the UK it is run by G4S.. The prison opened on 1st December 1997, and is a category B local prison for young offenders and adult male prisoners. We covered its opening and its use of technology in the January 1998 edition. It received a very good HM Inspector of Prisons Report earlier this year. We visit to find out how it did it.

NICK HARDWICK replaced Anne Owers as the Chief Inspector of Prisons. He is famously know for asking why we lock up so many people. We have requested an interview to ask what change of emphasis he will bring to the work started by Sir David Ramsbotham and Dame Anne Owers

HMP& YOI PARC is a Category B local prison housing approximately 1200 male adults (convicted only), young offenders, convicted and remand and young people convicted and remand.The prison opened in November 1997 and is the only private prison in Wales. It is managed by G4S on behalf of the Prison Service. It has undergone a huge increase in capacity and we have been running articles on its progress. Its now finished and we look at the result.

RELIANCE was the first private company to provide police custody assistants at Hereford in 1999 and was one of the first companies to be involved when prisoner escorting and court custody was first outsourced to the private sector. They now employ over 1200 officers in custody operations for HM Courts and UK Police services. And help to process and look after over 644,000 detainees annually. We talk to them about the future in these cash strapped times.