HMP Isle of Wight governor James Shanley.
THE GOVERNOR at HMP Isle of Wight has announced he is to leave after just 16 months in the job.
James Shanley, who took over as governor last June following the departure of Barry Greenberry, has accepted an offer to become governor at HMP Nottingham.
He said the post would offer him a new challenge and enable him to spend more time at home with his wife and children. Mr Shanley, formerly the governor at HMP Birmingham, lives with his family in the Midlands and commutes to the Isle of Wight.
"I was approached five weeks ago and asked to consider taking over at HMP Nottingham, which will be a significant challenge as it is a large local prison that is not performing to its full potential," he said.
"I would not have left the Island otherwise and I was not looking for a new job," he said.
"I have enjoyed my time here. I love the Isle of Wight and I'm sorry to be going, but I think it's the right thing for my family."
During his brief tenure, Mr Shanley has overseen the prison's improvement from a level 2 to level 3 prison, rated on a scale of 1 to 4 by the National Offender Management Service.
He said: "I think I'm leaving HMP Isle of Wight in a stronger position. It has moved closer to a single prison culture, rather than three separate prisons, and we have saved a significant amount of money.
"It has been a massive shift and all the staff have worked very hard to achieve that. I'm very proud of them."
Mr Shanley said he was likely to remain in post until at least Christmas, ahead of a new governor being appointed.
The announcement has come in the same month Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prison’s issued it latest inspection report.
Reporter: emilyp@iwcpmail.co.uk