30 May 2003
Prison reform experts have slammed the government's slow response to concerns about overcrowding in UK jails in the wake of yet another critical report by the sector's watchdog.
Following a damning study of Liverpool Prison by the chief inspector of prisons, Anne Owers, the Prison Reform Trust demanded 'sustained' action to rectify 'institutionalised over-crowding' across the Prison Service.
The report, published on May 28, blasted the regime at HMP Liverpool, Europe's largest jail, as 'unacceptable', with overcrowding, poor industrial relations and low standards of hygiene. The prison – which houses more than 1,500 inmates although it was built for 1,200 – now faces privatisation after it emerged that prior warnings about its conditions have not been heeded.
Geoff Dobson, deputy director at the PRT, told Public Finance: 'Although there are separate concerns relating to industrial relations at Liverpool, many of the problems flagged up in the report are spin-offs of broader worries about overcrowding in UK jails.
'Around 90 of the UK's 138 prisons are now officially overcrowded. With the prison population projected to rise from a record high of 73,000 to around 110,000 in the next few years, it is time the government started to implement effective alternatives to custodial sentences.'
The strategy unit of the Cabinet Office is currently looking into the issue and sources at the department have indicated it will publish an interim report this summer backing the expansion of community sentencing.
Meanwhile, Owers' report is likely to embarrass the Home Office further, coming so soon after last week's criticisms of Pentonville Prison in London.
The latest report highlights the lack of social activity, education programmes, exercise and shower facilities at Liverpool. Poor relations between prison officers and management also contributed to problems. 'Conditions on the induction wing were among the worst we have ever seen and standards of hygiene there and in the health centre were unacceptable,' inspectors said.
Phil Wheatley, the new director general of the Prison Service, said: 'The Prison Service had already identified Liverpool as an underperforming prison. A performance improvement programme is under way. [If] it is to be successful, it will have to address the many shortcomings this report identifies.'
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