HMP Norwich staff checks at prison reducing incidents in NR1

Knox Road, which leads up to HMP Norwich on the outskirts of the city centre, used to host slanging matches and arguments at all hours.

A year ago a plea for quiet was issued by those living nearby and it seems to have worked, with prison staff cracking down on behaviour around the NR1 estate.

Velma Wright, 77 who lives next to HMP Norwich, with her dog Buster (Image: Newsquest)

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Velma Wright spoke to this newspaper after experiencing “lots of swearing and shouting” at her house in Venables Court.

However, the 77-year-old has seen things improve vastly, saying: “The staff do more checks now with the sniffer dogs and they come around on a more regular basis too.

“They’ve dug out the patch of land where people used to stand on and throw drugs or phones over to prisoners.

Neighbours said they used to hear shouting back and forth between women and prisoners in HMP Norwich last year (Image: Newsquest)

“It’s never going to be perfect, but it’s definitely not as bad as it was a year ago.

“They seem to have cracked down during the last year and I’ve had no incidents like I used to.”

HMP Norwich governor Declan Moore is relieved to hear neighbours are happier.

He said: “On behalf of all the staff at HMP Norwich, we’re really pleased to have helped improve the local area for residents by hosting regular community meetings, ramping up dog patrols and increasing our work with the police.”

Rodrick Robertson, 80, has lived in Velma Close off Knox Road for roughly 20 years (Image: Newsquest)

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Rodrick Robertson, 80, has lived in Velma Close for 23 years and added: “It’s definitely more quiet than it was.

“Personally, I haven’t had any problems or disturbances in the last year or so.

The Evening News highlighted the issues near HMP Norwich a year ago (Image: Newsquest)

“There were incidents with drugs being thrown over the fences into the prison but even that seems to have gone away now.

“I don’t see nearly as many people coming around here.

Ms Wright’s fence, in Venables Close and the prison fence, just past it (Image: Newsquest)

“Prison staff come round more with dogs to check the estate – so they’re doing a good job in keeping on top of things and having everything in check.”

Neighbours praised prison staff for doing more patrols around the estate (Image: Newsquest)