UK: at Birmingham prison, government takeover from G4S extended for another six months

Birmingham Prison is to remain in government hands for a further six months due to the “fragile” state of the jail, the government has said.

The Prison Service stepped in to operate HMP Birmingham last August after an inspection uncovered soaring violence, drug use and appalling living conditions.

Announcing the extension on Tuesday, Prisons Minister Rory Stewart said while he was confident that the action taken had “begun to arrest the decline and brought signs of improvement”, the situation remained ”fragile” and removing the support now would risk ”jeopardising the progress made”.

He said: “We have been clear that the situation at HMP Birmingham was unacceptable, and that the step-in was not only necessary but would be extended unless we were satisfied that sufficient progress had been made.

“We have therefore taken the decision to extend the step-in until the summer, when the position will be reviewed. This will provide time for the changes we are making to bed in, for improvements to gather pace, and for a conclusion to be reached on the longer-term future of the prison.”

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