News12-10-03

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

British Prisons is pleased to now include population statistics from Scotland - See below...

News

YOUNG OFFENDER ESCAPES FROM PARC
A 19 year-old man has escaped from the Welsh private prison, allegedly by clinging to the bottom of a prison van.
BBC News Online 12/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/3184976.stm

PRISON FOOD BETTER THAN IN HOSPITALS AND SCHOOLS
The People have analysed food in prisons, hospitals and schools - prison food came out best.
People 12/10/03 http://www.people.co.uk/homepage/news/page.cfm?objectid=13504913

INTERVIEW: DIRECTOR GENERAL
The Director General of the Prison Service, Phil Wheatley, has given an interview to the Independent.
Independent 12/10/03 http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/story.jsp?story=452417
Independent 12/10/03 http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/story.jsp?story=452401

DISTURBANCE AT GLENOCHIL
Two prisoners have been hospitalised following a disturbance at the Scottish prison.
BBC News Online 11/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3183922.stm

BP PLANS HOMES NEXT TO NEW PRISON SITE
The fuel company have caused uproar in a Scottish community by supporting plans for a new prison.
Scotsman 11/10/03 http://www.news.scotsman.com/edinburgh.cfm?id=1126282003

LINCOLN RIOT LEADS TO CRIMINAL CHARGES
More than twenty prisoners have been charged following last year's riot at Lincoln prison.
Lincolnshire Echo 11/10/03 http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=5771
Ananova 10/10/03 http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_827516.html
BBC News Online 10/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lincolnshire/3180766.stm

PRISON STAFF FACE TESTS
Prison officers are to be routinely tested for alcohol, the Prison Service have announced. Prison officers have responded by saying that the tests should be applied to MP's.
BBC News Online 12/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3185362.stm
Times 10/10/03 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-2-848741,00.html

PRISON OFFICERS ATTACKED
Prison officers have been attacked in two incidents in Northern Ireland.
BBC News Online 10/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3179828.stm

RIOT AT LEWES PRISON
A riot at the Sussex prison has been blamed on a prisoner suffering from toothache.
BBC News Online 10/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/3179346.stm
Guardian 09/10/03 http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1058801,00.html
Times 09/10/03 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-2-847482,00.html
Ananova 08/10/03 http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_826811.html
BBC News Online 08/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/3174094.stm
BBC News Online 08/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3173168.stm
Brighton Argus 08/10/03 http://www.thisisbrightonandhove.co.uk/brighton__hove/archive/2003/
Evening Standard 08/10/03 http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/7067635
Sky News 08/10/03 http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-12814981,00.html
Sky News 08/10/03 http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1106400,00.html

SEGREGATION 'COULD COST £14m'
Segregating prisoners in Northern Ireland could cost between £12-£14m.
BBC News Online 09/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3179176.stm
BBC News Online 09/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3175990.stm

PRT HIGHLIGHT JAILS 'AT BURSTING POINT'
The Prison Reform Trust has highlighted the problems in our prisons.
Guardian 08/10/03 http://www.societyguardian.co.uk/story/0,8150,1058484,00.html

CASTINGTON YOI 'NEEDS IMPROVEMENT'
Coverage of the report of HM Chief Inspector of Prisons into Castington YOI.
BBC News Online 08/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/3173012.stm

CASTINGTON OFFICER COMPENSATED OVER BEING TAKEN HOSTAGE
An officer from Castington has been paid damages after being held hostage by a teenage prisoner.
BBC News Online 08/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/3175792.stm

SIR DAVID RAMSBOTHAM
Further coverage of the former Chief Inspector of Prisons' new book.
Guardian 08/10/03 http://society.guardian.co.uk/societyguardian/story/0,7843,1057685,00.html
Guardian 07/10/03 http://www.societyguardian.co.uk/story/0,8150,1057929,00.html
Times 06/10/03 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-151-837804,00.html

MOBILE PHONES FOUND IN BELMARSH
A report into Belmarsh prison has criticised poor security arrangements at the Cat-A prison.
Ananova 07/10/03 http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_826213.html
BBC News Online 07/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3169648.stm
Guardian 07/10/03 http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1057272,00.html
Telegraph 07/10/03 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2003%2F10%
Times 07/10/03 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-2-844652,00.html

EXHUMATION FOR BODIES OF HANGED MEN
The bodies of men hanged and buried at Cardiff prison are to be exhumed to make way for building.
BBC News Online 06/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3168568.stm

PLANS FOR 'SUPERJAILS'
Plans for two 'superjails', each holding 1,500 prisoners, have been reported.
Times 06/10/03 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-2-843572,00.html

PINK CELLS TO CALM PRISONERS
In a new experiment, prison cells are to be painted pink to see if it calms prisoners.
Guardian 09/10/03 http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/thisweek/story/0,12977,1058574,00.html
BBC News Online 06/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/3167778.stm

OPPOSITION TO WELSH SECURE TRAINING CENTRE
Neath Valley residents are opposing Youth Justice Board plans for a new Secure Training Centre.
South Wales Evening Post 05/10/03 http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=76

EXPANSION FOR SWINFEN HALL
Plans have been submitted for more wings at HM YOI Swinfen Hall.
BBC News Online 05/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/3171730.stm

SECURITY UPPED AT STAFFORD
Electronic gates have been installed at Stafford prison as part of security improvements.
BBC News Online 05/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/3165598.stm

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 HEWELL GRANGE
Published 10/10/03 - Report - Press Release

HM YOI CASTINGTON
Published 08/10/03 - Report - Press Release

HMP BELMARSH
Published 07/10/03 - Report - Press Release

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

Voluntary Sector

APF HIGHLIGHT CHILDREN'S RIGHTS
Action for Prisoners' Families held an event (09/10/03) to highlight the plight of children whose parents are in prison. http://www.actionpf.org.uk/opus529.html

Parliament

The House of Commons returns from Conference Recess this week - the Lords returned last Monday. The Queen's Speech will take place on Wednesday 26th November. Prorogation is expected to take place on Thursday 20th November.

DEBATE: Criminal Justice Bill
Lord Carlile of Berriew highlighted concerns over the transport for women prisoners.
Lords Hansard Col 384 - 08/10/2003 - Link

PQ: Prison Inspections
Lord Dholakia and others spoke with relation to inspection arrangements for prisons and the CJS.
Lords Hansard Col 15 - 06/10/2003 - Link

PQ: Prisoners serving short sentences
Lord Taylor of Warwick asked about the number of adults and young offenders on short sentences.
Lords Hansard Col WA18 - 06/10/2003 - Link

Prison Population

The population of prisons in the United Kingdom on Friday 10th October 2003 was as follows:
This Week 81,569 - - Last Week 81,539 - - Last Year 81,298 - - Annual Change +1,306

England & Wales: This Week 73,835 - Last Week 73,802 - Last Year 72,750 - Annual Change +1,085
Northern Ireland: This Week 1,157 - Last Week 1,143 - Last Year 1,035 - Annual Change +122
Scotland*: This Week 6,577 - Last Week 6,594 - Last Year 6,478 - Annual Change +99

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

* The Scottish Prison Service do not publish their statistics online. Their weekly bulletin, published on Monday each week, is provided to British Prisons and details are included here.

Next Week

PRT PUBLISH REPORT ON EDUCATION IN PRISON
The Prison Reform Trust will publish a report, titled Time to Learn, on Wednesday (15/10/03). For further information visit www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk.