A WOMEN'S prison in York was today attacked in a report which claims it has "neglected" efforts to resettle its inmates when they are released.

But the claims, made against Askham Grange Prison, have been roundly rejected by the jail's new governor, who says the institution is doing "an excellent job" of ensuring that offenders are trained for a new life.

The report, by HM Inspectorate of Prisons, is generally complimentary of the work done at Askham Grange. But Chief Inspector Anne Owens, who wrote the report, says the prison is "failing to provide enough purposeful activity or resettlement support".

She said resettlement efforts needed "more active strategic management".

She also criticised an "absence of a pre-release drugs strategy".

But governor Dawn Elaine, who took over from Ian Simmonds two weeks ago, said the criticisms were unjustified.

"I am concerned at the negativity of the executive summary," said Ms Elaine.

"Askham Grange is a high-performing establishment, providing excellent care for the women who live here."

She said the prison was going through a major change, from the old-style institution where all rehabilitation was conducted on site, to the newer, "more holistic" method, which uses organisations and business on the outside to reintegrate ex-offenders.

She said the prison had no formal pre-release drugs strategy because it had a "complete and total" drugs programme which ran throughout an offender's sentence.

The report, which resulted from a snap inspection in March, claimed the prison had actually performed less well than in its previous inspection in 1998.

Defending the prison, Ms Elaine, who was not in charge when it was inspected, said Mr Simmonds and his team should feel "very proud of the excellent work" they had done.

She said a recent audit of the prison had resulted in a 91 per cent grading for its standard of education.

The report also stated that funding for education at the prison had been cut. Ms Elaine responded by saying the prison was finding alternative ways to fund educational projects, such as securing European cash.

She and her senior staff were now compiling a response to the inspection.

Several inmates also defended the service provided by the prison.

One, known as Jackie, who is serving a nine-year sentence for drugs offences, said: "This place has really given me a chance. I'd never been to work before, and now I'm getting all the chances I want. I've also got qualifications while I've been here."

Martin Narey, director of the Prison Service, said: "Askham Grange is a decent and caring prison. It provides a safe and supportive environment for all prisoners and I am pleased that the Chief Inspector recognises this.

"I note the Chief Inspector's wish to increase investment in education. I share that wish, but at the moment that would require reducing education spending elsewhere. I am not prepared to do that."

Updated: 11:49 Thursday, September 19, 2002