North East prison praised for safety but concerns raised over rise of force used against inmatesHMP Low Newton was inspected last November, and was rated good for its safety, respect and preparation for releaseView Image HMP and YOI Low Newton prison in Brasside, near Durham (Image: Daily Mirror)A North East prison for female inmates has been praised for its safety, but concerns have been raised in other areas, including the rise in force used. HMP Low Newton was inspected last November by HM Inspectorate of Prisons, and was rated good for its safety, respect and preparation for release. ‌But as well as praise, there were a number of concerns that were raised in the report, including the amount of force used against inmates. The report stated: "The number of times force had been used against women had risen over the last year. Since this inspection, we have passed the Mental Health Act which ends the use of prison as a place of safety.

Source: Daily Mirror March 08, 2026 18:21 UTC