HMP Birmingham: Scanner funding failure ‘inexplicable’ – BBC News

‘A troubled jail’s failure to secure funding for a body scanner to help stop drugs being smuggled in is “inexplicable”, the chief inspector of prisons has said.’

Full Story

BBC News, 18th June 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Inhumane’: damning report on English and Welsh prisons – The Guardian

Posted June 6th, 2019 in health & safety, news, prisons, reports, standards by tracey

‘Prisoners are living in squalid and inhumane conditions in buildings that are unfit for purpose, according to a report that paints a damning picture of prisons in England and Wales.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 5th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Magistrates call for end to prison sentences under eight weeks – The Guardian

‘Prison sentences of less than eight weeks should no longer be imposed by the courts, the Magistrates’ Association is urging, in defiance of more radical government proposals.’

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The Guardian, 4th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

More prisoners to be temporarily released for work as government relaxes rules – The Independent

Posted May 28th, 2019 in employment, news, prisons, recidivists, rehabilitation, statistics, violence by tracey

‘More prisoners are to be temporarily released for work, education or to see loved ones after the government relaxed rules.’

Full Ministry of Justice press release

Full Story

The Independent, 28th May 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Private jails more violent than public ones, data analysis shows – The Guardian

‘Private prisons are more violent than public jails, according to data analysis that raises questions over the government’s plans to pursue its prisons-for-profit model.’

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The Guardian, 13th May 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

New prison anti-corruption taskforce unveiled – Ministry of Justice

‘A specialist taskforce to tackle staff corruption in jails has been announced by Justice Secretary David Gauke today (4 May 2019).’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 4th May 2019

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

More than 2,500 prison staff disciplined in five years with majority for sex and drugs, MoJ figures show – Daily Telegraph

‘Thousands of prison staff have been subject to disciplinary action in the past five years, including for relationships with inmates, assaulting prisoners and racism.’

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Daily Telegraph, 29th April 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

HMP Berwyn prison officer jailed for sex with inmate – BBC News

Posted April 30th, 2019 in misfeasance in public office, news, prison officers, prisons, sentencing by sally

‘A prison officer who had a sexual relationship with an inmate has been jailed for 12 months.’

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BBC News, 26th April 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prison officer gets G4S payout for brain damage after assault – The Guardian

‘A prison officer left with permanent brain damage after an attack at a children’s jail run by G4S has spoken about his continued belief in rehabilitation after receiving a “substantial” settlement from his former employer.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 12th April 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Spending on jail staff legal fees 46-times more than for bereaved – The Guardian

Posted April 11th, 2019 in bereavement, fees, inquests, legal aid, legal representation, news, prisons, statistics by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice spent £4.2m representing prison officers at inquests, while paying out only £92,000 in legal aid for bereaved families at hearings that examine deaths in prison, according to newly released figures.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 10th April 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Annabella Landsberg: HMP Peterborough inmate’s death ‘shocking’ – BBC News

Posted April 5th, 2019 in death in custody, news, prisons, restraint by tracey

‘The events leading to the death of a prisoner after she was restrained and left on the floor for 21 hours were “truly shocking”, a report has said. HMP Peterborough staff thought Annabella Landsberg was “play-acting” when she stayed on her cell floor after being restrained on 2 September 2017. However, when examined the next day the 45-year-old was found to be seriously unwell and later died in hospital.’

Full Story

BBC News, 4th April 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ban painful restraint techniques on children, say charities – BBC News

Posted April 3rd, 2019 in children, news, prisons, restraint, young offenders by sally

‘Ministers are under growing pressure to ban the painful headlocks, wrist and arm twists that can be used to control children’s behaviour in youth prisons.’

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BBC News, 3rd April 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Abolish prison terms of under a year to ease safety crisis, say MPs – The Guardian

Posted April 3rd, 2019 in health & safety, imprisonment, news, prisons, sentencing by sally

‘Offenders should no longer be given sentences of under a year to ease the “enduring” prison safety crisis in England Wales, MPs have said in a damning report.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 3rd April 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

G4S stripped of contract to run Birmingham prison – The Guardian

Posted April 2nd, 2019 in contracting out, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons by tracey

‘G4S is to be permanently stripped of its contract to run Birmingham prison after the government was forced to take control of the failing jail.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 1st April 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Key to prison education handed to governors – The Guardian

Posted March 26th, 2019 in education, news, prisons by sally

‘Jails in England and Wales are to take over educating their inmates – but will that increase the chances of success?’

Full Story

The Guardian, 26th March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

R (Youngsam) v The Parole Board – Blackstone Chambers

Posted March 13th, 2019 in appeals, delay, human rights, news, parole, precedent, prisons by sally

‘The case concerned a prisoner serving a determinate sentence who had been released on licence but then recalled to prison. He complained that there had been a delay in convening a Parole Board hearing concerning his detention, and that this breached his rights under article 5(4) of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).’

Full Story

Blackstone Chambers, 27th February 2019

Source: www.blackstonechambers.com

LW, KT, MC & Faulder v Sodexo Limited & Secretary of State for Justice – Blackstone Chambers

Posted March 13th, 2019 in contracting out, human rights, news, prisons by sally

‘The High Court has today handed down judgment on the human rights obligations owed by the State to persons serving a prison sentence in a private prison.’

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Blackstone Chambers, 21st February 2019

Source: www.blackstonechambers.com

‘In probation, we’re poorly paid and the caseloads are unmanageable’ – The Guardian

‘Chris Grayling’s 2013 reforms have cost more, yet failed to cut reoffending or reduce staff shortages.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 13th March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Youth prison put inmates in solitary confinement for up to 23 hours a day – The Guardian

‘A prison for young adults has been placed in special measures by the government after it was found that inmates were locked alone in their cells for up to 23 hours a day – a practice campaigners have described as de facto solitary confinement.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 9th March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

First UK transgender prison unit to open – BBC News

Posted March 4th, 2019 in news, prisons, transgender persons by sally

‘The UK’s first prison unit for transgender inmates will open this week, the Ministry of Justice has said.’

Full Story

BBC News, 3rd March 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk