A NEW role is being recommended for a North-East prison because of confusion over its precise function.

Officially, Holme House Prison, in Stockton, Teesside, receives unsentenced adult and young adult remand prisoners directly from court, as well as prisoners transferred from overcrowded jails such as Durham Prison.

But in reality, more than 85 per cent of its population have already been sentenced by the courts. They require the activities and opportunities of a category C training prison, which the Stockton jail does not provide.

Anne Owers, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, has recommended a new role for the prison - but one which will need the injection of fresh funding.

In a report on the prison released today, she says: "Holme House could be developed into a community prison for Teesside and North Yorkshire.

"This will require capital investment, to provide education and training opportunities, and a focus on developing links with local community, housing and employment resources."

Her inspection team was pleased to find improvements at Holme House where, before the last unannounced inspection two years ago, there was one major disturbance and five deaths in custody.

The latest inspection found that "safety and confidence had largely been restored and a consistent, well-ordered regime established for prisoners".

Specific concerns raised by the inspection included:

* Few prisoners getting out of their cells for ten hours a day or more;

* A severe backlog in sentence planning;

* Insufficient activities;

* Underdeveloped resettlement;

* Little in place to ensure attention to the needs of foreign nationals;

* Inadequate bail information available.

On the positive side, the inspectors found a largely safe and well-ordered environment, well-managed self-harm and suicide prevention processes and most recommendations from investigations into deaths in custody achieved.

The prison's detoxification and healthcare facilities are described as "excellent", with good relationships between prisoners and staff, especially PE staff, and increased prisoner confidence in race relations management.

Phil Wheatley, director general of the Prison Service, said: "Holme House has made good progress over the last two years and staff should be congratulated. The fact that the prison has been recognised as a largely safe and well-ordered environment is a credit to everyone involved."