News05-10-03

Scroll down for News, Inspections, Voluntary Sector, Parliament, Prison Population, and Next Week.

New this week! The Inspections section, listing links to inspection reports published this week. News converage continues to appear in the main News section.

News

GOVERNOR LEARNS WELSH
The Governor of Swansea prison has begun a crash course in the Welsh language to help him communicate with prisoners, staff and visitors.
BBC News Online 03/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/3161450.stm

RAMSBOTHAM TRIED TO GET AITKEN MOVED, SAYS NAREY
Martin Narey has issued a statement contradicting a claim by Sir David Ramsbotham.
Ananova 03/10/03 http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_825360.html
Times 03/10/03 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-2-840013,00.html

SLOPPING OUT MUST END AT BARLINNIE
Scotland's Chief Inspector of Prisons has said that the time has come for slopping out to end at Barlinnie prison in Glasgow.
BBC News Online 03/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3158882.stm
Times 04/10/03 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-2-840976,00.html

STAFFORD - INSPECTION
A report on Stafford prison says that the prison is no longer a 'dumping ground'. (See below for full report)
BBC News Online 03/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/3160100.stm
Stafford Sentinel 03/10/03 http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=67699

OFFICERS WILL WORK TO RULE IF ATTACKS CONTINUE
Prison Officers in Northern Ireland may work to rule if attacks on their homes continue.
BBC News Online 02/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3158520.stm

ANGER AT HIGHPOINT RENAMING
Residents close to Highpoint prison are upset at a proposed renaming of Highpoint prison.
Mirror 02/10/03 http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/page.cfm?objectid=1347010

ESCAPE FROM EVERTHORPE
A 32 year old man has escaped from the Cat-C prison in East Yorkshire.
Ananova 01/10/03 http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_824883.html
BBC News Online 01/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/humber/3156220.stm
Yorkshire Post 02/10/03 http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/viewarticle2.aspx?ArticleID=66818

SUICIDE AT LEWES
A 27 year old man was found hanging in his cell at Lewes prison in Sussex.
BBC News Online 01/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/3155512.stm

STRUGGLE FOR EVERYDAY SURVIVAL
An in-depth investigation into the female 'drug mules' travelling from Jamaica to the UK, and the effect on the UK prison population.
Guardian 30/09/03 http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianpolitics/story/0,3605,1052452,00.html
Guardian 01/10/03 http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianpolitics/story/0,3605,1052927,00.html
Guardian 01/10/03 http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianpolitics/story/0,3605,1052928,00.html

TALKS OVER PRIVATE PRISONS IN JAMAICA
Two British companies are said to be in talks with Jamaican authorities over plans to build a maximum security prison on the Island to house Jamaican prisoners currently in the UK.
Ananova 01/10/03 http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_824719.html

CHERIE TALKS OF 'TRAGEDY' OF GIRLS IN PRISON
The Prime Minister's wife was speaking at a Labour Party Fringe Meeting. (See below)
Evening Standard 29/09/03 http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/6929576
Telegraph 30/09/03 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2003%2F0

'PRISONGATE'
Prisongate, the title of Gen Sir David Ramsbotham's memoirs of his time as HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, have been serialised in The Times in advance of their publication next week. (See below)
BBC News Online 30/09/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3150796.stm
Guardian 30/09/03 http://www.guardian.co.uk/crimeandpunishment/story/0,8150,1052701,00.html
Times 02/10/03 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-7-837721,00.html
Times 01/10/03 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-7-836431,00.html
Times 30/09/03 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-7-835477,00.html
Times 30/09/03 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-7-835478,00.html
Times 30/09/03 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-2-835988,00.html
Times 29/09/03 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-7-834122,00.html
Click here to buy the book from Amazon at a discounted price, and raise money for Prison News!

JOHN HUMPHRYS - THE FOOLISH DESIRE FOR JAIL
The Sunday Times columnist uses the jailing of a teacher to highlight the overuse of prison.
Sunday Times 28/09/03 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-7-837721,00.html

Inspections

Reports of HM Chief Inspector of Prisons are published in Portable Document Format (PDF). You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to read them. Download the programme here.

HMP STAFFORD
Unannounced Follow-Up Inspection (Published 30/09/03) - Report - Press Release

HMP HAVERIGG
Announced Inspection (Published 30/09/03) - Report - Press Release

LINKS
HM Inspectorate of Prisons (England & Wales)
HM Inspectorate of Prisons (Scotland)

Voluntary Sector

CHERIE BOOTH AT HOWARD LEAGUE FRINGE
Cherie Booth QC spoke at a Labour Party Conference fringe organised by the Howard League for Penal Reform, and spoke of the plight of children in prison. Link

PRISON REFORM TRUST HIGHLIGHTS 'UNSAFE' PRISONS
The Prison Reform Trust issued a press release Thursday (02/10/03) highlighting prisons holding more prisoners than their operational capacity. Not available online.

Parliament

Parliament is now in Conference Recess and will return tomorrow (6th October) (Lords) and 14th October (Commons). The Queen's Speech will take place on Wednesday 26th November. Prorogation is expected to take place on Thursday 20th November.

The Conservative Party Conference begins in Blackpool on Sunday. Link

Prison Population

The population of prisons in England and Wales on Friday 3rd October 2003 was as follows:
This Week 73,802 - - Last Week 73,661 - - Last Year 72,500 - - Annual Change +1,302

The population of prisons in Northern Ireland on Friday 3rd October 2003 was as follows:
This Week 1,143 - - Last Week 1,131 - - Last Year 1,034 - - Annual Change +109

The population statistics for Scotland are not published online by the Scottish Prison Service but the average population at any one time is around 6,500.

LINKS
HM Prison Service (England & Wales) - Scottish Prison Service - Northern Ireland Prison Service

Next Week

Former Chief Inspector of Prisons, Gen Sir David Ramsbotham, publishes his memoirs entitled 'Prisongate' on Monday. Click here to buy the book from Amazon with a £6 discount and with commission for Prison News. Click here for a summary and Q&A from The Times serialisation of the book.