A FEMALE prison officer at one of the UK’s biggest male prisons has revealed how to avoid trouble on the wing.
Former chef Steffi Lakes joined HMP Berwyn as a prison officer in 2016.
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She is currently a mentor, focused on helping new members of staff settle in to the biggest prison in Wales.
Now Steffi has told of what life is like at the tough prison, and offered advice to others.
She said: “If you are a positive person, you’ll have a better day on the wings.”
Speaking about her role ahead of this International Women’s Day, she added: “I like to think that I can speak to people from all walks of life, which is also hugely important.
“Having good communication skills helps to break down issues with prisoners before they can get out of hand.”
Speaking to the Daily Post, Steffi said that she was attracted to the prison service because she wanted to join a uniformed service. She said that she had originally considered the Royal Navy.
Steffi said that she strongly believed in prisoner rehabilitation, and was committed to supporting charities in her local community.
The £250million Category C adult male prison has been rocked by a wave of scandals over recent years, with female officers becoming involved with criminals.
Jennifer Gavan, 27, Ayshea Gunn, 27, and Emily Watson, 26, were all jailed over recent years for sparking relationships with prisoners.
Last year it emerged that Roxanne Walker had “fallen in love” with inmate Daniel Carter at the jail.
Mold Crown Court heard that the relationship continued despite other warnings and advice.
Speaking out last year Plaid Cymru Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts said there particular issues at Berwyn, where cells had been “trashed” by prisoners.
Last year Jason Taylor, a tutor at Berwyn, was jailed for smuggling drugs into the jail.
He was caught on CCTV placing brown envelopes in the mail trays. Taylor was jailed for 32 months during a hearing at Mold Crown Court.
