TWO Preston Prison workers have received accolades from the top by scooping Butler Trust Awards.

Probation officer Terry Bond and senior officer Ralph Livesey, based at HMP Preston, will attend the prestigious awards ceremony at Buckingham Palace, London, on Monday (March 22), where they will receive The Terry Waite Award from HRH The Princess Royal.

Terry and Ralph were nominated for their work with prisoners who have received life sentences.

The duo recognised that no special provision was being made for the 50 to 60 inmates who have received life sentences being temporarily held in Preston - while on remand or at the start of their sentences.

They introduced a risk assessment procedure - which enables relevant information to be fed into Life Sentence Plans, provided training for both prison and probation staff on the needs of 'lifers', and set up a mutual support group for such prisoners.

The training package they initiated is now used as a basis for possible national training and the team are involved in the preparation of new national guidance on the treatment of life prisoners in local prisons.

The awards are given to just 31 people who work in UK prisons. They will be handed over in the presence of the Minister for Prisons in England and Wales, Lord Williams of Mostyn QC, and other dignitaries connected with the prison services and criminal justice system.

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