United Kingdom: England & Wales
Seen in the press
Read our selection of press reports about this country.
UK prisons 'holding child inmates in solitary confinement against UN torture rules'
Investigation exposes serious allegations of international human rights breaches at young offenders institutions in the UK. British prisons are holding child inmates in solitary confinement in an alleged breach of UN torture rules and British law, The Independent has found. Lawyers in one case have…UK: prison 'culture change' needed to prevent suicides
A culture change in the penal system is needed to stop the rising number of suicides in prisons, according to a new report. Campaigners say a “profound” shift is needed to move from a primarily punitive approach to one centred around rehabilitation and recovery.UK: government to enshrine ministerial duty to rehabilitate prisoners into law for the first time
Liz Truss says she wants the prison population to go down but ‘for the right reasons’. The Government will for the first time enshrine into law an explicit duty for the Justice Secretary to ensure that prisons are places of rehabilitation rather than just punishment.UK: HMP Northumberland prison officer: 'We have lost control of the jail'
A prison officer at HMP Northumberland has told an undercover reporter ‘we have lost control of the jail’, as shocking footage reveals major lapses of security, intoxicated prisoners and beleaguered staff. In tonight’s episode of BBC Panorama, a journalist experiences life inside the Acklington-bas…UK: Exeter prison struggling with drugs and rising violence, say inspectors
Assault and self-harm figures at Devon jail are revealed as justice secretary prepares to publish prison reform bill. Prison inspectors have warned that the situation at Exeter jail is “fragile”, with drugs thrown over the wall on a daily basis and only 29 officers on duty for 490 prisoners.UK: prison suicides and how to stop them
Once upon a time, in 2013, in England and Wales, there were 76 people known to have died by suicide in prison. This was a higher rate of such deaths than in the general population. It concerned everyone who tried to make prisons safe. We have evidence of a higher than average rate of mental disorde…UK : prison suicides in England and Wales reach record high
Ministry of Justice figures show 119 inmates killed themselves last year, and assaults and self-harm also rose. A record 119 people killed themselves in prisons in England and Wales in 2016 – an increase of 29 (32%) on the previous year, according to Ministry of Justice figures. The record number o…Britain’s prison suicide crisis: ‘There’s no political will. Dead prisoners do not win votes’
Almost 10 prisoners a month kill themselves in UK jails, with much of the blame placed on neglect and costcutting. That is what led to the death of Dean Saunders, according to his family – and a jury has agreed.UK : Thorn Cross open prison praised by inspectors
An open prison in Cheshire is well-led, with very good outcomes for prisoners and few violent incidents, according to Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons, Peter Clarke. HMP and YOI Thorn Cross in Warrington, which houses about 380 inmates, was inspected in October last year.