Latest news with #HMInspectorateofPrisons
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Self-harm cases rise at Hull Prison, report finds
Incidents of self-harm have increased at HMP Hull, according to a report by the prisons inspectorate. A review in April measured progress at the jail since inspections in 2021 and 2024. HM Inspectorate of Prisons had previously found that prison bosses were not using data effectively to reduce violence or self-harm, but the latest report concluded that "reasonable progress" had been made to understand the causes of the problem, despite the rise in incidents. The Ministry of Justice said it was addressing the concerns raised in the report. Previous inspections had identified a number of concerns, including inmates being locked up for more than 22 hours a day and a lack of involvement in meaningful activities or attending education workshops. The inspectorate had also cited an increase in positive drug tests and "too many" prisoners being released with no homes to go to. The recent follow-up visit found that "concerns had been taken seriously" and staff were working hard to improve the situation. However, Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor said the availability of drugs remained a "significant concern" and a threat to safety and security. He said leaders were now using a drug strategy that focused on recovery and good support. He also said the prison remained overcrowded, with cramped cells, and while there had been work to improve inmates not ending up homeless on their release from prison, the number of those released without homes to go to had not yet fallen. In conclusion, Mr Taylor said: "Leaders were committed to driving improvement at Hull and this independent review of progress indicated that their hard work was paying off in many important areas." HMP Hull houses about 900 remanded or newly-convicted men and vulnerable prisoners. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "While we have seen notable improvements since the last inspection, we fully acknowledge the challenges that remain at HMP Hull." The spokesperson added that efforts were being made to address the concerns that had been raised, including training staff to reduce the risk of self-harm and bringing in reforms to reduce pressure on prisons. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Prisoners spending too long in cells - inspector More inmates released early to stop prisons running out of space Hull Prison HM Inspectorate of Prisons
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Self-harm cases rise at Hull Prison, report finds
Incidents of self-harm have increased at HMP Hull, according to a report by the prisons inspectorate. A review in April measured progress at the jail since inspections in 2021 and 2024. HM Inspectorate of Prisons had previously found that prison bosses were not using data effectively to reduce violence or self-harm, but the latest report concluded that "reasonable progress" had been made to understand the causes of the problem, despite the rise in incidents. The Ministry of Justice said it was addressing the concerns raised in the report. Previous inspections had identified a number of concerns, including inmates being locked up for more than 22 hours a day and a lack of involvement in meaningful activities or attending education workshops. The inspectorate had also cited an increase in positive drug tests and "too many" prisoners being released with no homes to go to. The recent follow-up visit found that "concerns had been taken seriously" and staff were working hard to improve the situation. However, Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor said the availability of drugs remained a "significant concern" and a threat to safety and security. He said leaders were now using a drug strategy that focused on recovery and good support. He also said the prison remained overcrowded, with cramped cells, and while there had been work to improve inmates not ending up homeless on their release from prison, the number of those released without homes to go to had not yet fallen. In conclusion, Mr Taylor said: "Leaders were committed to driving improvement at Hull and this independent review of progress indicated that their hard work was paying off in many important areas." HMP Hull houses about 900 remanded or newly-convicted men and vulnerable prisoners. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "While we have seen notable improvements since the last inspection, we fully acknowledge the challenges that remain at HMP Hull." The spokesperson added that efforts were being made to address the concerns that had been raised, including training staff to reduce the risk of self-harm and bringing in reforms to reduce pressure on prisons. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Prisoners spending too long in cells - inspector More inmates released early to stop prisons running out of space Hull Prison HM Inspectorate of Prisons
Spectator
21-05-2025
- Spectator
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.
Daily Record
13-05-2025
- Daily Record
Record number of 999 calls from Barlinnie jail following spate of drug overdoses and assaults
Shock new figures show that 62 ambulances were sent to Barlinnie in Glasgow between January and March this year to take seriously ill inmates to hospital. Record numbers of 999 calls are being made from Scotland's biggest jail following a spate of drug overdoses and assaults. Shock new figures show that 62 ambulances were sent to Barlinnie in Glasgow between January and March this year to take seriously ill inmates to hospital. That compares to 41 call outs in the previous three months - October to December - an increase of 51 percent. The figures for 2025 are also more than triple the 17 emergency calls in the first three months of 2023 and higher than the 27 made in the same period in 2022. Their release, under Freedom of Information, follows mounting criticism of the conditions at 143 year old Barlinnie and delays over its £1billion replacement. Many of the 999 calls are for inmates who have overdosed on smuggled drugs, including psychoactive substances known to cause violent side effects. Others are assaults linked to prison gangland feuds such as the one between the Lyons and Daniel families. Violence at Barlinnie has surged in the last decade, with nearly 3,000 assaults recorded since 2016, including 2,601 between inmates and 365 on staff. The rise in 999 callouts is also due to the growing number of older inmates with health problems, including those convicted of historical sex offences. Yesterday the Scottish Conservatives claimed government ministers had allowed the situation at Barlinnie to spiral out of control. Liam Kerr, the party's justice spokesperson, said: 'These staggering figures highlight the breakdown of discipline at Scotland's largest prison. 'Hardworking, overstretched prison officers face an impossible job trying to maintain order and keep themselves and inmates safe in a dangerous environment where drug-taking is rife. 'Sustained cuts to justice budgets mean prison staff don't have the resources to tackle this crisis.' Barlinnie was slammed last month in a report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland Stephen Sandham. He said the jail was in a 'wretchedly poor state' and more than 30 per cent above capacity. Work is underway on the new 1,344-capacity HMP Glasgow at nearby Provanmill, but the cost has risen to nearly £1 billion from £100 million, with the prison not due to open until at least 2028, three years later than planned. Another high security jail HMP KIlmarnock in Ayrshire is also experiencing high number of 999 ambulance call outs, There were 106 to HMP Kilmarnock in Ayrshire in 2024, compared with 32 in 2023 and just 14 in 2022. 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. There were also 49 call outs in the first three-and-a half months of this year - more than triple the number for the whole of 2022. A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: 'The health and wellbeing of those in our care is a key priority. 'We work with NHS partners, who are responsible for healthcare in our establishments, to ensure emergency calls to the Scottish Ambulance Service are only made when necessary and appropriate. 'We have seen, in recent years, a steady increase in the age profile of our population, and a significant rise in individuals with complex health and social care needs.' The Scottish Government added: 'We are increasing investment in our vital prison service by increasing the Scottish Prison Service resource budget by 10 per cent to £481.5 million in 2025/26.' Last month The Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research at Glasgow University revealed 64 people died in all Scottish jails last year - the highest on record. Seventeen were suicides or suspected suicides, 10 were drug-related, and one was a homicide.
BBC News
18-04-2025
- BBC News
HMP Forest Bank: Investigation after death of prison inmate
An investigation is under way after the death of an inmate at a jail in Greater Clementson, who was 33, died at HMP Forest Bank in Salford on 1 Prisons and Probation Ombudsman confirmed the death on its website and said it had launched an independent investigation into the Category B jail, which is run by French prison operator Sodexo, has capacity for about 1,460 male inmates. In November, an ombudsman investigation was launched after the death of another 2022, the jail was said by HM Inspectorate of Prisons to have made "noticeable" improvements after a range of criticisms. The previous director of the facility stood down in 2021 after it was given a 45-day improvement notice. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
