News round up for Week ending 
7th December 2003

STAFF SHORTAGE RISKS SECURITY
A House of Commons Report has criticised low levels of staffing at four prisons. (Report listed below)
E-Politix 02/12/03 Link
Times 05/12/03 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-2-920397,00.html

TWO YEARS FOR SCALDING
A teenage prisoner who scalded another inmate has been given an extra two years in prison.
BBC News Online 05/12/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tees/2226411.stm

SECURICOR
Profile of the company's justice operations.
Times 05/12/03 http://business.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,2020-9078-920288,00.html

CONSULTATION OVER MAZE
A public consultation on what to do with the site of HMP Maze has been opened.
BBC News Online 05/12/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3291931.stm
Belfast Telegraph 05/12/03 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=470346
Scotsman 04/12/03 http://www.news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2261715

NAKED CHILDREN HELD IN BARE CELLS
The Prison Service has admitted drastic treatment of young prisoners at Stoke Heath YOI.
Community Care 04/12/03 Link
Guardian 05/12/03 http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1100348,00.html
Scotsman 04/12/03 http://www.news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2260099

PRISONERS BUILD HOUSE
Young prisoners in Guernsey are to build a mock Tudor House for the Liberation Day celebrations.
BBC News Online 05/12/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/guernsey/3292369.stm

PRISON WINS 'GREEN AWARD'
Parc Prison in Wales has won an award for it's environmental work.
Green Consumer 05/12/03 http://www.greenconsumerguide.com/index.php?news=1588

"TASTY PORRIDGE"
The Guardian's new prisons correspondent reflects on his time at Wormwood Scrubs.
Guardian 05/12/03 http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1100338,00.html

OBITUARY: JOHN McCARTHY
Former governor of Wormwood Scrubs who rose to prominence over his complaint about prison conditions.
Times 04/12/03 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-45-918374,00.html

PRISON POWER CUT
Prisoners at Peterhead were plunged into darkness after a power cut.
North Scotland Press & Journal 04/12/03 Link

BIN LADEN COMMENT "A JOKE"
A prison officer sacked for making a remark about Osama Bin Laden is appealing against his dismissal.
BBC News Online 03/12/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/suffolk/3288257.stm
Norfolk Eastern Daily Press 04/12/03 Link
Sun 04/12/03 http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,43-2003561588,00.html
Telegraph 03/12/03 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2
Telegraph 04/12/03 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2

WORST PRISONS ESCAPE PRIVATISATION
The two worst prisons - Dartmoor and Liverpool - won't be privatised, according to the Home Office.
Ananova 03/12/03 http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_843747.html
BBC News Online 03/12/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/3287175.stm
Guardian 04/12/03 http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1099276,00.html
Independent 04/12/03 http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/story.jsp?story=469896
Liverpool Echo 04/12/03 Link
Telegraph 03/12/03 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/12/03/uprison
Western Morning News 04/12/03 Link

SCOTTISH PRISON AWARDS
Various awards presented to officers at Peterhead Prison.
Buchan Observer 03/12/03 http://www.buchanie.co.uk/archived/2003/Week_049/news/prison.asp

PRISONER DIES AT BLAKENHURST
A 62 year-old sentenced prisoner was found dead in his cell at Blakenhurst prison, Worcestershire.
BBC News Online 02/12/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hereford/worcs/3257918.stm

80% OF PRISONERS USE DRUGS
Four in five prisoners use drugs on a regular basis, according to drugs' charities.
Guardian 02/12/03 http://www.societyguardian.co.uk/crimeandpunishment/story/0,8150,1097974,00.html
Independent 01/12/03 http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/story.jsp?story=468942

INTERVIEW: PHIL WHEATLEY
The Director General of HM Prison Service interviewed in The Independent.
Independent 01/12/03 http://news.independent.co.uk/people/profiles/story.jsp?story=468938

OFFICERS "TOOK BRIBES"
Prison officers took bribes including rugby tickets from prisoners, a court is told. One of the officers asked for the case to be adjourned so he could go home and watch himself of "The Weakest Link".
BBC News Online 01/12/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/3254730.stm
The Sun 03/12/03 http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2003561174,00.html

OBITUARY: LYN DAVIES
Former governor of Chelmsford and Strangeways.
Times 01/12/03 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-45-914946,00.html

Parliament

PQ: JUVENILE SELF-HARM
Question asked by Charles Hendry MP (Con, Wealden)
Commons Hansard 01/12/03 Col 11W Link

No other relevant Parliamentary business this week.

Inspections & Reports

THE OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE OF PFI PRISONS
Report of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee
Published 02/12/03 - HTML Version - PDF Version

Prison Population

Country	This Week	Last Week	Last Year	Annual Change
England/Wales	74,109	74,182	72,803	+ 1,306
Scotland	6,569	6,596	6,443	+ 126
Northern Ireland	1,220	1,220	1,079	+ 153
UK Total	81,898	81,998	80,325	+ 1,585

Please note: these population statistics do not relate to any particular day. The different prison authorities calculate their populations on different days of the week. These statistics reflect the most recently released data for the respective countries. The figures do not include the number of children held in Local Authority Secure Units or Secure Training Centres.

Voluntary Sector

UNLOCK ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The National Association of Ex-Offenders, UNLOCK, held its Annual Conference on Monday, and launched a new campaign to give prisoners the vote. www.unlockprison.org.uk

Next Week

CONFERENCE: WOMEN AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
A joint conference between the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies and the Fawcett Society takes place in London on Monday. www.kcl.ac.uk/ccjs

REPORT: YOUNG BLACK MEN IN CUSTODY
The Children's Society will publish the first in a series of reports on children in prison, at the House of Commons on Wednesday. www.childrenssociety.org.uk