Category: prisons
Trio of justice bills become law – Ministry of Justice
‘Justice Secretary David Gauke today spoke of his pride in a department “delivering real change”, after 3 important justice bills all became law on the same day (20 December 2018).’
Ministry of Justice, 20th December 2018
Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
Anti-drone technology could be introduced in English prisons – The Guardian
‘The government could introduce an anti-drone system to stop drug smuggling in English prisons after a successful six-month experiment in Guernsey prompted ministers to consider a U-turn about the technology.’
The Guardian, 18th December 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
Puppy therapy to help prisoners with mental health and addiction launched for the first time in the UK – Daily Telegraph
‘Puppy therapy to help prisoners with mental health and addiction is being offered in the first scheme of its kind in the UK.’
Daily Telegraph, 17th December 2018
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
A third of prisons hold at least one transgender inmate, MoJ says – The Guardian
‘More than a third of prisons in England and Wales hold at least one transgender inmate, official statistics have revealed.’
The Guardian, 30th November 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
Jails are failing to get a grip on violence and drugs, says chief inspector – Daily Telegraph
‘Britain’s jails are failing to get a grip on record levels of violence, suicides, self-harm and drug-taking which are all getting worse, the chief inspector of prisons warned yesterday.’
Daily Telegraph, 22nd November 2018
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Rise in prison suicides prompts calls to tackle overcrowding – The Guardian
‘The number of suicides among prisoners this year has already exceeded 2017’s death toll, prompting penal reform campaigners to renew calls for urgent action to tackle overcrowding.’
The Guardian, 19th November 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
Charles Bronson cleared of prison governor attack – The Independent
‘Notorious inmate Charles Bronson has been cleared of trying to cause grievous bodily harm a senior prison officer.’
The Independent, 15th November 2018
Source: www.independent.co.uk
HMP Birmingham: ‘Signs of improvement’ at ‘worst’ prison – BBC News
‘A troubled prison that was taken over by the government is showing early signs of improvement, inspectors say.’
BBC News, 12th November 2018
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Prisons are new frontline in fighting crime, says Gauke – The Guardian
‘Jails have emerged as a new frontline in fighting crime because advances in technology mean prison walls alone are no longer effective in stopping criminals, the justice secretary has told police chiefs.’
The Guardian, 1st November 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
Inspectors warn of worsening conditions for mentally ill inmates – The Guardian
‘Mentally ill prisoners in the largest high-security jail in the UK face “totally unacceptable” delays in being transferred to a secure hospital, leading to a further deterioration in their conditions, inspectors have said.’
The Guardian, 1st November 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
Poor healthcare in jails is killing inmates, says NHS watchdog – The Guardian
‘Almost half of England’s jails are providing inadequate medical care to inmates, whose health is being damaged by widespread failings, the NHS watchdog has told MPs in a scathing briefing leaked to the Observer.’
The Guardian, 27th October 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
Seven jailed over plot to fly drugs into UK prisons with drones – The Guardian
‘Seven members of a gang that used drones to airlift £500,000 worth of drugs into prisons have been given jail terms ranging from three to 10 years.’
The Guardian, 26th October 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
Self-harm and violent attacks in prisons hit record high as incidents rise by 20% in a year, figures show – The Independent
‘Incidents of self-harm in jails across England and Wales increased to 49,565 in the year to June 2018, with the number of self-harming individuals up by 10 per cent, despite a reduction in the overall prison population.’
The Independent, 25th October 2018
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Gender Recognition Act: ‘Why we want identity rules changed’ – BBC News
‘If you want to legally change your gender in the UK, first a doctor has to diagnose you with a medical condition.’
BBC News, 17th October 2018
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Out of control’: prison watchdog warns of synthetic drug crisis – The Guardian
‘An epidemic of synthetic drugs in prisons is “completely out of control” and the “new normal”, a prison deaths watchdog has warned, as signs emerge that the impact is spreading to immigration removal centres and bail hostels.’
The Guardian, 11th October 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
Karen White: how ‘manipulative’ transgender inmate attacked again – The Guardian
‘Transgender politics – like any politics – can be divisive. Yet in the case of Karen White, who is legally still a man but was put in a female-only prison, both sides of the transgender rights debate are united in the belief mistakes were made.’
The Guardian, 11th October 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
Exeter prison condemned by inspectors for violence and drug use – The Guardian
‘The crisis-struck HMP Exeter prison, one of only four to have been subjected to special emergency action, is “very violent” and has overt drug use that is not regarded as exceptional by staff, according to inspectors.’
The Guardian, 9th October 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
Specialist financial crime unit to crack down on prison gangs – Ministry of Justice
‘A new specialist unit will identify and freeze bank accounts linked to organised crime behind bars, Justice Secretary David Gauke announced today.’
Ministry of Justice, 2nd October 2018
Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice