United Kingdom: England & Wales
Seen in the press
Read our selection of press reports about this country.
UK : government to recruit 2,500 new prison officers after warning cuts are leaving jails unsafe
The Government has announced cash for an extra 2,500 prison officers as those working on the front line warn the safety of jails is threatened by falling staff numbers and cuts.Source — The Independent
USA : these puppies have a ‘magical’ effect on a state prison
A program called Tender Loving Canines is among the new and restored rehabilitation courses popping up in California state prisons since Gov. Jerry Brown began emphasizing programs that help inmates prepare to reenter society. When a pair of puppies stepped into a state prison’s highest security ya…Source — The Sacramento Bee
UK : eagles could be used to guard prisons from drones being used to smuggle in drugs, weapons and other contraband
Eagles could be deployed to intercept drones being used to smuggle drugs, weapons and other contraband into prisons. Prisons Minister Sam Gyimah said the birds of prey could be recruited to take down remote-controlled miniature aircraft as they are flown towards jails.Source — Mail Online
UK : Truss to hold talks with prison officers over violence
Justice Secretary Liz Truss is due to hold urgent talks with leaders of the Prison Officers Association as concerns grow about safety in jails. The union had planned meetings outside each jail on Tuesday, to highlight fears over increasing violence and suicides in English and Welsh prisons. The mov…Source — BBC
UK : prison violence epidemic partly due to staff cuts, MoJ admits
Self-inflicted deaths at a record high and assaults rise 34% as observers condemn “toxic mix of violence, death and misery”. The Ministry of Justice has explicitly acknowledged that staff cuts are a factor in the rising tide of violence in prisons in England and Wales.Source — The Guardian
UK : criminals under 25 should not go to adult prison, MPs say
‘The Ministry of Justice has not clearly articulated to us why it has not acted decisively to develop a systematic new approach to young adults, given the weight of evidence’. Young offenders are still developing neurologically up to age of 25 and should be kept out of adult prisons, a group of MPs…Source — The Independent
UK : prison and probation 'must be overhauled to cut re-offending that costs taxpayer billions of pounds'
Prison and probation services in England and Wales must be overhauled to drive down re-offending rates that cost the taxpayer billions of pounds, according to a report. Ministers were urged to push up staffing numbers and bring in legislation to establish a new rehabilitation “duty”.Source — Telegraph
UK : prison reforms 'simply not achievable' amid 'loss of control'
The government’s ambitious prison reform plans are “simply not achievable”, the former chief inspector of prisons has warned. Giving a lecture in London, Prof Nick Hardwick said rising suicides, assaults and murders in jails were proof of the “loss of control”. His comments come days after a prison…Source — BBC
UK : the hidden mental health crisis in women’s prisons
From self-harming in groups to starvation and self-immolation, women are overwhelmingly more likely than men to hurt themselves while incarcerated. So why isn’t the prison system responding? Maria, 29, is a disability rights activist who uses a wheelchair. She also has borderline personality disord…Source — Broadly
UK : Juliet Lyon, ‘If the state takes away your liberty, it must keep you safe’
The almost 17 years Juliet Lyon spent as director of the Prison Reform Trust before stepping down in July was good preparation for her new role as chair of the Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody (IAP). With figures last month showing violence and death in English and Welsh prisons at a…Source — The Guardian
UK : prisons inspector slates HMP Bedford as 'abject failure' over standards
It is easier to get illegal drugs than to get clothes or sheets in Bedford prison, where standards have declined to “unacceptable levels”, according to the new chief inspector of prisons. Peter Clarke, the former head of police counter-terrorism, said it was hard to understand how there had been “s…Source — The Guardian
UK : prison violence at 'wholly unacceptable' level, ombudsman finds
An official inquiry has criticised the “wholly unacceptable level of violence” in English and Welsh jails after a record six inmates were killed in 2015-16. A report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman into the six homicides also uncovered a 38% rise in the number of assaults involving a blade o…Source — The Guardian
UK : prisoner died after jail staff "failed to treat his severe asthma"
A prison inmate who suffered from severe asthma died due to “serious failings” in the way jail staff managed his medical condition, a coroner has ruled. Senior Coroner Andre Rebello has warned that unless lessons are learned from the death of Ashley Gil, the prison service may experience future fat…Source — The Independent
England and Wales : rise in prisoners moved to mental health hospitals
More prisoners are being diagnosed with mental health problems requiring hospital treatment, official figures obtained by the Guardian show. The number of male prisoners being transferred to hospital under the 1983 Mental Health Act grew by more than 20% between 2011 and 2014 in England and Wales,…Source — The Guardian
Grande-Bretagne : lutte contre l’islamisme radical en prison
Le gouvernement britannique va dévoiler, lundi 22 août, un plan contre l’islamisme radical en prison, prévoyant notamment d’isoler les détenus les plus dangereux et d’interdire à ceux qui encouragent des croyances contraires aux “valeurs britanniques fondamentales” de participer aux prières.Source — Le Monde
UK : inside UK's biggest prison
By the end of this year, HMP Oakwood in Staffordshire will be the largest prison in the UK, with more than 2,000 inmates. Run by private firm G4S, Oakwood’s reputation was dented in 2014 when a wing in the prison was taken over by inmates.Source — The BBC
Scotland : nearly 70 prisoners sign petition alleging "medical neglect" at Edinburgh prison
An investigation is underway after 65 prisoners signed a petition criticising the medical services at Edinburgh prison. The inmates have alleged “serious medical neglect” and claim that a prisoner who died recently did not get the help he needed.Source — Herald Scotland
UK : an inmate dies in apparent overdose after calls for help allegedly ignored
A prisoner who died after apparently overdosing on prescription medicines had allegedly been ringing her cell alarm bell for more than two hours with no response, the Guardian has learned.Source — The Guardian
UK : the first annual report of HM Chief Inspector of Prisons released
“Uniquely we focus on the prisoner experience. We make our judgements based on international human rights standards, in support of the UK’s treaty obligations. The Inspectorate is not a regulator in the sense of having powers to enforce standards. Our power comes from the ability to publish our rep…Source — HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales
UK : women forced to give birth in front of male prison guards in case they try to escape prison
Babies born in prisons have a much higher chance of developing mental health problems, the report claims. The Government is coming under pressure to justify why it imprisons pregnant women and their babies, after a report suggested that the practice can cause significant harm to infants and mothers…Source — The Independent
UK : Skype, iPads and in-cell education at heart of major prisons shakeup
Prisoners should be able to use iPads in their cells and stay in touch with friends and family via Skype, a major study commissioned by the justice secretary, Michael Gove, is expected to conclude.Source — The Guardian
Grande-Bretagne : la formation des gardiens de prison n'aura pas lieu
Le gouvernement britannique s’est trouvé contraint, sous la pression de l’opinion, de se retirer d’un appel d’offres visant la formation de gardiens de prison en Arabie Saoudite.Source — Le Monde
UK : watchdog calls for action over transgender prison deaths
Ombudsman says jails in England and Wales should be more flexible and proactive in managing such inmates. The recent deaths of several transgender prisoners underline the need for jails to be more flexible and proactive in managing such inmates, a watchdog has said.Source — The Guardian
