A change in the way vapes are supplied at Stocken Prison has led to a reduction in the number of fires at the prison.

According to a report to Rutland County Council, the switch has reduced the stress on the prison service.

A meeting of the Safer Rutland Partnership Strategic Board was told that a "change in the supply arrangements" for vapes at Stocken – near Oakham – had led to a reduction in the number of fires.

The board was also told that retail crime – particularly shoplifting – was on the increase and had impacted on Rutland's crime figures.  

The meeting was told this was not an increase in casual shoplifting – but was down to more organised activity by gangs external to the county.  

A report from the meeting – held earlier this year – was presented to full council last week.

Prisoners across the UK have used vapes to start fires, with many prisons now introducing tamper-proof devices to combat the issue.

Stocken Prison was last month named as one of seven prisons still waiting for vital safety improvements – despite a fatal fire at the category C facility.

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Others included Eastwood Park, Swaleside, Risley, Wealstun, Chelmsford and Holme House, all of which have seen fatal fires in the last 15 years.

Richard Hunt died from smoke inhalation after a fire in his cell at Stocken in July 2025.

An inquest is yet to take place, but a coroner's prevention of future deaths report was sent to the prison's governor and HM Prison and Probation Service, which expressed concerns that staff had "deliberately tampered" with fire alarm control panels.

An HM Prison and Probation Service spokesperson said: "We take the safety of our prisons extremely seriously, and we are carrying out our plans to meet fire safety standards as fast as possible across the estate.

"In the meantime, we have put measures in place to keep people safe, with every cell either linked to an automatic fire detection system or using a smoke detector."