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Four chief constables have been placed on alert to house prisoners as a new high in the prison population is reached.
Times 01/08/03 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-2-763456,00.html
BOMB ATTACK ON PRISON OFFICER'S HOME
The daughter of a Northern Ireland Prison Officer escaped injury after picking up a bomb outside their home in County Down.
BBC News Online 31/07/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3112291.stm
PRISONER DIES AT WYMOTT
A 24 year-old man serving a six year sentence for rape was found dead in his cell.
BBC News Online 31/07/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/3112791.stm
DISTURBANCES AT CHELMSFORD
Fires were lit during a disturbance in the young offender's unit at HMP Chelmsford in Essex.
BBC News Online 30/07/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/3111927.stm
RELEASE ON LICENCE 'INCOMPATIBLE' WITH EUROPEAN CONVENTION
An Appeal Court judge has ruled that licences are incompatible with the convention.
BBC News Online 30/07/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tees/3111401.stm
BULLYING AND DRUG-TAKING MAJOR PROBLEMS AT LINDHOLME
An inspection report has criticised Lindholme prison for bullying and drug problems
BBC News Online 30/07/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/3108125.stm
PLANS FOR NEW SCOTTISH PRISON
The Scottish Prison Service has announced plans for a new prison at Low Moss.
BBC News Online 29/07/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3107969.stm
ERLESTOKE PRISON NEEDS POPULATION REDUCTION
An inspection has praised Erlestoke prison but has highlighted the need to reduce the population.
BBC News Online 28/07/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/3105225.stm
HM Prison Service 29/07/03 http://www.hmprisons.gov.uk/news/newstext.asp?312
STOP IMPRISONING CHILDREN, SAY CHILDREN'S CHARITIES
A coalition of six children's charities have called for an end to child imprisonment. A new initiative called 'Shape' will provide fresh debate on youth justice.
BBC News Online 28/07/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3101753.stm
Community Care 31/07/03 http://www.communitycare.co.uk/articles/article.asp?liarticleid=41599
Guardian 28/07/03 http://www.guardian.co.uk/letters/story/0,3604,1007028,00.html
Guardian 31/07/03 http://society.guardian.co.uk/youthjustice/story/0,11982,1009008,00.html
OVERCROWDING CAUSES VIOLENCE IN SCOTTISH PRISONS
The Annual Report of the Scottish Prison Service has blamed high incidence of violence against prisoners and staff on overcrowding.
BBC News Online 28/07/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3105093.stm
Telegraph 29/07/03 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2003%2F07%2F2
Voluntary Sector
Barnardo's and the NSPCC are among six charities which this week launched Shape: Children's Lives & the Youth Crime Debate in an event at Westminster Cathedral Hall. See listings (above) for news coverage or visit www.shapethedebate.org.uk.
Smart Justice, a partnership of the Prison Reform Trust and Network for Social Change, launched on Tuesday at a rather unconventional event in Soho. Visit www.smartjustice.org for more information.
Parliament
Parliament is now in Summer Recess and will return on 8th September. For further information visit the UK Parliament website - click here.
Prison Population Figures
The population of prisons in England and Wales on Friday 1 August 2003 was as follows:
This Week Last Week Last Year
Total 73,911 73,927 71,289
The population of prisons in Northern Ireland on Friday 1 August 2003 was as follows:
This Week Last Week Last Year
Total 1,126 1,162 1,032
The population statistics for Scotland are not published online by the Scottish Prison Service but the average population at any one time is 6,500.
Other items of new have been moved to the news archive pages, click here to go to them.
Prisons
A full list of all the UK
prisons, along with their address and telephone numbers.
Writing to Inmates
Considering writing to an
inmate but not sure what to do, click here to find out.
Visiting inmates
Thought of visiting an
inmate, but unsure? Here is some useful information.