A Freedom of Information (FOI) request showed that in December, Jennifer Gavan, 27, of Llay, Wrexham, became the third staff member to be jailed for having a relationship with a prisoner at the UK’s biggest male prison, following Ayshea Gunn, then 27, and Emily Watson, who was 26 at the time.

The FOI subsequently found 18 women were suspected of, or had had, inappropriate relationships with inmates at HMP Berwyn in Wrexham, a 2,000 capacity facility.

Some were operational staff at the prison and others were working there from partner organisations in areas such as rehabilitation.

Four operational staff were sacked and two from partner groups.

Three staff members resigned while a further nine from partnerships also resigned.

HM Prison Service said more than 500 staff have had anti-corruption training in the past 18 months and announced the enhanced training after Gavan was sentenced last year.

In a statement, HM Prison Service said: “Our frontline staff are nothing short of heroes – undergoing an extremely tough and demanding job day-in day-out to get criminals back on the straight and narrow and keep our streets safe.

“It is for their sake we will never tolerate those few officers who think they are above the law.

“That’s why our newly bolstered Counter Corruption Team is working around the clock to root out and clamp down on those who undermine our exemplary service with their dangerous behaviour and ensure they face the strongest possible consequences for their crimes.”

(Source: BBC)

Photo: “HMP Berwyn (geograph 7100546)” by Mike Parker is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.