Can anything solve Britain's prisons crisis?
While we were inspecting HMP Elmley on the Isle of Sheppey, a commotion broke out on one of the wings. 'What's up?' one of my team asked the nearest prison officer. 'Bloke who's getting out tomorrow has just been told he's being shipped to Rochester jail.' The man was manhandled towards a prison van. 'If I was him, I'd kick off too,' the officer added quietly.
That week things were so desperate in the south of England that the prisoner was being forced to spend one night in a jail 20 miles away so that new arrivals could be squeezed in that afternoon. Jails were 99 per cent full and governors were under instructions to make every possible place available.
This is the context in which the former justice secretary David Gauke publishes his report on sentencing this week. Ministers hope he will find a way to reduce the prison population from current historic highs. That would give the most overcrowded jails, such as Elmley, Leeds and Bristol, breathing space to deal with the other problems they face.
Recently published statistics showed a 13 per cent increase in assaults on staff and seven murders in the past year. Self-harm among prisoners has reached a new high – particularly in women's prisons. Ever-increasing levels of violence and recent high-profile assaults by notable prisoners at Frankland and Belmarsh have led ministers to announce that some prison officers will soon be issued with Tasers.
In the three public-sector young offender institutions, consistently the most violent prisons in the country, the use of pepper spray on children has been authorised. The government has also commissioned a review into the use of body armour following pressure from the Prison Officers' Association.
At HM Inspectorate of Prisons, we continue to report that many prisoners are locked in their cells for up to 22 hours a day.
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Glasgow Times
11-06-2025
- Glasgow Times
Here's what Scotland's jail staff says about overcrowding
The Prison Officers' Association published a survey with the views of more than 400 members. In it, they warned that the system is on the verge of collapse as there is not enough staff, training opportunities and space in Scottish jails. When asked, 95.5% of respondents agreed that rising prisoner numbers make the facilities more dangerous for staff and residents. 86.6% stated that due to the overcrowding, there is more sickness and absence among workers. Also, 80.21% said there are not enough employees to cope with the volume of inmates. READ NEXT: 'Battle' against drug-smuggling drones wages on at Glasgow's Barlinnie Inside Barlinnie as inspectors give verdict on notorious jail Here's what Scotland's jail staff says about overcrowding (Image: Newsquest) Barlinnie, Glasgow (Image: Colin Mearns) One responder suggested: 'Do not house prisoners like battery hens.' Another said: "Increase prison spaces by physically building more spaces.' A third wrote: 'Scotland must critically examine the root causes of its high crime rates and explore how community-based initiatives can create a safer, more equitable society.' A fourth added: 'There are not enough public mental health facilities, especially for women. People are being sent to prison as a place of safety due to their mental health. "This is not an acceptable practice' A fifth commented: 'Staff recruitment needs to be scrutinised and those currently in a position need to be held accountable for the poor choices being made when recruiting." Several participants noted that the retirement age should be lowered from the current 68 to 60, in line with other emergency services. Some argued that the stress of the job is reducing employees' life expectancy. Many responses also highlighted that the justice system needs to explore community-based disposals as an alternative to short-term sentences. (Image: Colin Mearns) HMP Glasgow plan (Image: SPS) In a recent report, His Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons in Scotland concluded that overcrowding is Barlinnie's main issue. During 2023/24, the average annual population was 1367, despite having been designed to house 987 men. Its larger replacement, HMP Glasgow, is currently under construction and is expected to be operational by 2028. A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: 'Our staff are our greatest asset. Every day, prison officers do outstanding work in the most challenging circumstances, and it is crucial that their voice is heard. 'This important report demonstrates the risk they face from a rising and complex prison population, the impact this has on their health and wellbeing and on their ability to do their jobs effectively. 'We need to see a reduction in our population, so that our staff can fully support people in our care, to reduce their risk of reoffending, and help build the safer communities we all want to see.' The Scottish Government was approached for comment.
Daily Record
11-06-2025
- Daily Record
Scotland's jails at 'breaking point' as prison officers demand urgent action on overcrowding
Scotland's jails are at 'breaking point' as prison officers today demand urgent action on 'dangerous' levels of overcrowding. A damning new report from the prison warder's union has laid bare staff fears after jail numbers reached record levels. Almost all prison officers (over 95%) say rising prisoner numbers make our jails more dangerous - while more than 80% say their prison can no longer cope. Scotland has one of the highest incarceration rates in Europe, with 8,110 people behind bars in the prison estate this week. Phil Fairlie, Assistant Secretary of the Prison Officers' Association (POA), which has around 4,000 members across the country, said: 'This report is the clearest evidence from our members on the frontline that Scotland's prisons are at breaking point. 'It is POA members who are expected to work in this pressure cooker atmosphere every single day. They are doing a remarkable job in incredibly challenging circumstances, but without the correct support and additional staffing something has to give, they are not superhuman and it will take its toll eventually. 'The Prison Officers' Association will be sending a copy of this report to every MSP, MP, The Scottish Government and the Scottish Prison Service. We are urging those in positions of power and influence to listen to our members and take immediate action to end the overcrowding crisis.' Hundreds of Scottish prisoners were released early in recent months in a bid to ease the pressure on packed jails after the population hit a peak of 8,361 in May last year. The problem has been linked to longer sentences being imposed by the courts, a rise in domestic abuse and sex crimes and convictions for historic sexual abuse. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill was passed under emergency procedures last year, allowing short-term inmates serving less than four years were set free after serving 40% of their sentence as opposed to the previous 50%. But the POA report, which surveyed more than 500 prison officers, shows more than 68% of staff think current levels of overcrowding are the worst they have seen in their career. When asked about the steps being taken to accommodate increasing prisoner numbers, more than 55% of prison officers said prisoners not ready for release are being freed early. More than 91% said overcrowding increases tensions in Scotland's prisons, leaving prisoners locked up in their cells for longer and reducing prisoner access to exercise and fresh air. They said it provided fewer opportunities to engage in education or rehabilitation projects, while stoking rising levels of substance misuse and resulting in more incidents of violence against staff and prisoners. More than 86% of warders said the prisoner levels were contributing to rising sickness absence levels in staff and more than 94% said it current conditions meant they would be unable to work until their normal pension age of 68. In February, the Governor of Scotland's biggest jail, Barlinnie admitted he would 'struggle' to survive life inside the overcrowded prison he manages, describing it as a 'pressure cooker'. In April, inspectors described parts of the prison as being in a 'wretchedly poor state' while operating at 30% over capacity. HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland (HMIPS) 'strongly urged' the Scottish government to tackle overcrowding as a priority. The Scottish government has committed to building a new prison to replace Barlinnie on the outskirts of the city. It is due to be completed in 2028 at a cost nearly near £1bn. One unnamed prison officer said: "Too many prisoners are caught in a revolving door. They're out one week and back the next. "Prison has become a warehousing business where slogans about changing lives are ironic because the horrors caused by conditions of overcrowding do change lives - for the worse.' POA chiefs were set to hold crunch talks with MSPs on the report at a meeting at the Scottish Parliament today. Mr Fairlie said: 'We need urgent action to address the overcrowding crisis and we welcome the Prisoner Early Release Bill as an early step. But until these measures are having a meaningful long term impact, we need more staff, an improved estate, and a recognition that our Prison Officers are not superhuman and able to work under such conditions until they are almost 70.' A Scottish Prison Service spokeswoman said: 'Our staff are our greatest asset. Every day, prison officers do outstanding work in the most challenging circumstances, and it is crucial that their voice is heard. 'This important report demonstrates the risk they face from a rising and complex prison population, the impact this has on their health and wellbeing and on their ability to do their jobs effectively. 'We need to see a reduction in our population, so that our staff can fully support people in our care, to reduce their risk of reoffending, and help build the safer communities we all want to see.' Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: 'Like the rest of the UK, Scotland's prison population has risen significantly in recent times and has become increasingly complex. We have taken a number of actions to address this and to support the dedicated staff who do outstanding work in our prisons day in, day out. I am grateful for their commitment and dedication. 'We continue to work with the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) and wider justice system to manage the prison population and have increased investment to the SPS resource budget by 10% to £481.5 million in 2025/26.'
Pembrokeshire Herald
10-06-2025
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Youth custody crisis : Parc Prison offers rare progress amid widespread failures
Children held in English youth prisons face long cell time, little trust in staff – but Bridgend's Parc offers glimmer of hope A MAJOR report from HM Inspectorate of Prisons has exposed alarming failings across the youth justice system in England and Wales – revealing that many children held in custody feel unsafe, isolated, and unable to build basic trust with staff. The report, published on Tuesday (June 10), followed inspections at three Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) – Wetherby in West Yorkshire, Werrington in Staffordshire, and Parc in Bridgend, Wales. While conditions in the English institutions were found to be deteriorating, inspectors described Parc as a clear outlier, with more structured routines, stronger staff relationships, and significantly more time spent out of cells. CHILDREN LOCKED UP, IGNORED AND FAILED At Wetherby and Werrington, children reported being locked in their cells for up to 21 hours a day, often alone and without any meaningful conversation with staff. Many said they did not feel safe. The use of segregation was widespread, with some children spending over 100 days separated from others, in conditions bordering on solitary confinement. The report concluded that chronic staff shortages, excessive redeployment, and poor implementation of national care frameworks had eroded any chance of building positive relationships. In some cases, boys were only spoken to when being escorted between rooms. Dining alone in cells was the norm, and staff were frequently rotated, breaking continuity of care. One boy told inspectors: 'I haven't had a proper conversation with a single officer since I arrived.' PARC: A DIFFERENT PICTURE In sharp contrast, HMP & YOI Parc in Bridgend, operated by G4S, was praised for providing more stability and structure. Children at Parc typically spent 7–9 hours out of their cells on weekdays, and up to 8 hours even on weekends — double the freedom seen in English YOIs. Officers at Parc worked in consistent units, enabling them to build familiarity and trust with the boys they supervised. The report said: 'Children were out of their cells for much longer every day, the rules were well established, and relationships were stronger.' Staff at Parc had a better understanding of the Framework for Integrated Care, and children could access education, health support, and therapeutic activities. Importantly, even children placed in separation units at Parc continued to receive education and were not locked in cells all day — a standard not met in England. However, inspectors still found room for improvement at Parc. Literacy and numeracy outcomes remained below expectations, and while staff were more consistent, not all were effectively trained in trauma-informed care. NACRO: SYSTEMIC FAILURE MUST BE ADDRESSED Reacting to the report, the crime reduction charity Nacro said the youth justice system is now in a 'growing state of crisis.' Campbell Robb, Chief Executive of Nacro, said: 'Self-harm, violence and isolation are all major issues in the youth estate. Children need adults they can trust – yet this report shows they are being failed. The number of children who say they feel unsafe in custody has doubled in a year. That must change.' Nacro, which operates in more than 40 prisons across the UK, including Wales, urged the Government to ensure that youth custody is used only as a last resort, and that all children in detention are given a safe and rehabilitative environment. EDUCATION FAILURES ADD TO THE PROBLEM In addition to prison conditions, the report drew attention to widespread failures in education provision within the youth estate. A separate December 2024 progress inspection at Parc noted reasonable progress on most issues, but flagged persistent shortcomings in teaching quality, literacy strategies, and reintegration planning. The education watchdog Estyn, in its annual prison report, also raised concerns about inconsistent teaching and leadership at Parc and HMP Cardiff. Despite some pockets of good practice, inspectors said many learners were not reaching basic levels of literacy or numeracy and that opportunities for purposeful education remained too limited. Inspectors recommended that education providers and prison staff work more closely together to identify learning needs, plan better lessons, and give young people meaningful qualifications before release. WEAPONS, VIOLENCE AND RISING DANGER IN ENGLAND The severity of the problems in England was underscored by new data from Wetherby, where nearly 900 improvised weapons were seized in a single year. Staff recorded over 1,100 restraint incidents, and classroom time was lost on more than 12,000 occasions due to fights, lockdowns, or unsafe conditions. Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor said: 'This report sets out in stark terms the failure by the Youth Custody Service to create environments in which children in YOIs can form positive, appropriate relationships with authoritative, well-trained and well-supported staff.' He added: 'In 2018, my predecessor reported that children who had these relationships with staff were likely to be motivated to engage with behaviour management schemes. Seven years on, behaviour management is an increasing challenge.' WALES: A MODEL FOR REFORM? Despite Parc's relative success, campaigners warn it must not be seen as a reason for complacency. Children in Wales are still subject to the same overarching policies and pressures from the Ministry of Justice and Youth Custody Service. And while Parc offers some of the best practice in the UK, its lessons have yet to be properly implemented elsewhere. The report calls on the UK Government — and by implication, the Welsh Government in its devolved responsibilities — to: End long-term cell confinement of children Ensure every child receives at least 15 hours of education per week Improve staff training in mental health and trauma-informed care Phase out harmful segregation and separation practices Reduce custodial use and invest in community alternatives Parc is not perfect — but it is proof that a better approach is possible. While most YOIs across England continue to fail children, Wales has the opportunity to lead by example. With political will and investment, Bridgend's example could be the start of a much-needed transformation in how we treat the most vulnerable young people in custody.
