THE two key figures in the prison system have locked horns over an inspection report that is critical of management at Wormwood Scrubs. It says that the jail is in danger of returning to the culture of brutality exposed four years ago.

Martin Narey, Director-General of the Prison Service, said that although he did not think the report by Anne Owers, the Chief Inspector of Prisons, was unfair, the overall conclusion was. He told a press conference at the West London prison: "I firmly reject the Inspectorate's conclusions."

Those conclusions are contained in the preface to Ms Owers's report, which came after an unannounced inspection last December, and a press notice accompanying the 213-page document.

The preface says: "Management at Wormwood Scrubs had to eradicate a deep and resistant negative culture. There was clearly still resistance, from some staff and middle managers, to change and progression in the prison; and what was described to us as an 'anti-management culture'."

The jail was sliding backwards, or had stalled, in areas where there had been improvements seen in 2000. Once again, there had been "promises, plans and hopes rather than achievements and outcomes". The preface, highlighting management failings at the jail, says: "The green shoots of February 2000 had failed to blossom. We found management weaknesses and gaps through which we feared the old culture could re-emerge."

Ms Owers says, however, that there was "no evidence of a culture of brutality by officers towards prisoners".

Police investigated 100 prison officers in the late 1990s over allegations of staff brutality, and 27 were suspended. Three officers were jailed last year for a "sadistic" attack on an inmate.

Ms Owers said that the effect of the high-profile police investigation had been "corrosive" and, in therapists' terminology, no "closure" had been provided for staff because there had been no independent inquiry into why the situation had deteriorated so badly over such a long period.

The report found prison managers struggling to cope with overcrowding, high levels of staff sickness and negative attitudes among prison officers.

One ward of the healthcare centre was in an appalling state, with dirty lavatories strewn with rubbish, stained mattresss, dirty sheets and torn blankets. "One patient had vomited on the floor and the vomit had not been cleared up."

A clear lack of clinical leadership had been unable to maintain basic standards through lack of staff and beds on wards being used for new arrivals at the jail.

Half the inmates questioned said that they felt unsafe in the prison at least some of the time and that the anti-bullying strategy was ineffective.

The report says that the amount of purposeful activity available for prisoners had declined, with 44 per cent of inmates claiming that they were out of their cells for less than four hours a day, compared with 17 per cent in February 2000.

The report is critical not only of management at the jail but also of senior managers in the Prison Service who had allowed frequent changes in the senior management team.

Overcoming staff resistance to attempts to turn round the jail had not been helped by the departure of almost all the senior management team a few months before the inspection.

In the preface, Miss Owers echoes the criticisms made by her predecessor, Sir David Ramsbotham, saying: "The prison has lacked the necessary support and direction from Prison Service headquarters to drive through agreements on appropriate staffing levels."

Mr Narey said that he did not find the report unfair, but he objected to the preface and the press notice.

Mr Narey frequently complained in private about Sir David's comments in reports, but is clearly determined to adopt a more robust response to Ms Owers, who is the first woman to hold the position of Chief Inspector.

He said in a statement: "The unacceptable treatment of prisoners and the use of violence against them has been eradicated at Wormwood Scrubs, with officers dismissed and imprisoned. The prison is now a safer and much more decent establishment." He admitted however, that although improvements since 1999 had been steady, in some respects they had not been as fast as he or the governor would have liked. "The prison population has more or less doubled in that time. It's dealing with more than 1,100 prisoners as opposed to 600 at the time of the 1999 report."

Keith Munns, Governor of the prison since last year, said: "There is no evidence of any culture of brutality and I am confident that the prison is not unsafe or unhealthy. The staff now in place will not allow any violent culture to emerge."

Anne Owers: liberal and robust critic of failing prisons

The first woman Chief Inspector of Prisons. Has followed well-trodden path of attacking conditions at jails in England and Wales. Considered a member of liberal establishment, at start of five-year term last year promised to continue robust criticism of failing prisons.

Has silenced critics who said she would be a tame Chief Inspector, publishing highly critical reports on Dartmoor Prison and Onley Young Offender Institution.

Style much lower-key than that of predecessor, Sir David Ramsbotham, who said at end of his term that he had not met Jack Straw, who was then Home Secretary, in months. Renowned for her campaigning record on human rights issues, especially asylum-seekers. Since taking over as new inspector has concentrated on work by prisons to provide offenders with literacy and other skills to help them to find jobs.

Daughter of a colliery joiner in Co Durham. Was educated at Washington Grammar School and attended Girton College, Cambridge, achieving 2:1 in history.

Spent next 13 years researching African history for uncompleted PhD as well as teaching in Zambia. Also undertook voluntary race and advice work.

In 1981, joined Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants as research and development officer. Became general secretary, holding post in 1986-92. Became Director of Justice, the all-party human rights and law reform organisation.

Martin Narey: respected and ambitious reformer

At 47, first head of the Prison Service to have his contract renewed, rather than being dismissed or made to retire.

Signed on this year for a further three years, insisting that the �130,000 to �135,000-a-year job was the only one that he was interested in doing.

The Director-General took up one of the most difficult jobs in British public life in 1999. Implemented change in the 137 jails in England and Wales with relish.

Although always willing to admit that things do go badly wrong, and have done so for years, Mr Narey believes that the service has been transformed since he joined, after working in the NHS.

An assistant governor at Deerbolt Young Offender Institution in 1982-85, he rose rapidly and within 12 years became head of security policy for the Prison Service, before being made director of regimes.

Head of the Crime Prevention Agency in 1996. Produced a seminal report on delays in the criminal justice system that formed the basis for one of Labour's first major pieces of legislation in 1997.

Highly regarded by former Tory and current Labour ministers and likely to move to another Civil Service post at the end of the present three-year contract - if not earlier, if he wants a change.

Attended St Mary's College Comprehensive School in Middlesbrough, and took a degree in public administration at Sheffield Polytechnic.

His attachment to Teesside continues: lists watching Middlesbrough FC as a recreation in Who's Who and often goes to their matches.

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