News19-10-03

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

News

NO SMOKING BAN FOR PRISONS
A ban on smoking in prisons, highlighted earlier in the year, is unlikely to happen.
Times 19/10/03 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-1507-859704,00.html

JUDICIAL REVIEW OVER AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Dennis Nilsen wants to publish his autobiography, which is the cause of a judicial review being heard this week (beginning Monday).
BBC News Online 18/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/3202886.stm
Telegraph 19/10/03 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2003%2F10%

PROFILE: PC NORMAN BRENNAN
A profile of Norman Brennan, a transport constable at Paddington but better known to most as the spokesman for the Victims of Crime Trust.
Independent 18/10/03 http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/story.jsp?story=454610

MAN ON THE RUN FROM LEYHILL
A man convicted of attempted murder has absconded from Leyhill in Gloucestershire.
Ananova 17/10/03 http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_829813.html
BBC News Online 18/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/3201332.stm
BBC News Online 19/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/3201332.stm

PRISON POPULATION REACHES RECORD HIGH
The prison population on Friday was an all-time high. (See below for statistics)
Ananova 17/10/03 http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_829825.html
BBC News Online 17/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3202060.stm

BRIXTON ORDERS PIZZA DELIVERY
With prison kitchens closed, Brixton prison ordered a take-away for prisoners.
Ananova 17/10/03 http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_829581.html
Mirror 17/10/03 http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/page.cfm?objectid=1352354

PRISONERS "BULLIED FOR PILLS"
Prisoners at Leeds have been bullied into handing over anti-addiction drugs at Leeds Prison, according to a new Inspection report.
BBC News Online 17/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/3199508.stm

INQUIRY RULING ON FELTHAM MURDER
The Home Secretary has been ordered to conduct a public inquiry into the murder of a prisoner at Feltham YOI in 2000, following an appeal to the House of Lords. (See Parliament section below)
Ananova 16/10/03 http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_829399.html
BBC News Online 16/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3196282.stm
Community Care 17/10/03 http://www.communitycare.co.uk/articles/article.asp?liarticleid=42533
Guardian 17/10/03 http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianpolitics/story/0,3605,1064880,00.html
Independent 17/10/03 http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/legal/story.jsp?story=454187
Sctosman 17/10/03 http://www.news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2059926
Sky News 16/10/03 http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-12830910,00.html
Sky News 16/10/03 http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,15410-12831254,00.html
Telegraph 17/10/03 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2003%2F1
Times 17/10/03 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-2-857556,00.html

NORTH SEA CAMP 'DUMMY' PRISONER JAILED
A man who placed a dummy in his bed at the open prison before absconding has been jailed for four months.
BBC News Online 15/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lincolnshire/3194906.stm

'NEGLECT' LED TO PRISON DEATH
An inquest has ruled that a man died of a heart attack of Norwich prison, contributed to by the neglect of prison authorities.
BBC News Online 15/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/norfolk/3194570.stm

CALL FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO PRISON EDUCATION
A PRT report has highlighted stark choices for prisoners - to earn enough to buy stamps and phonecards, or take education. (See Voluntary Sector below)
BBC News Online 15/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/3193638.stm

FORMER INSPECTOR HIGHLIGHTS PROBLEMS IN WOMEN'S PRISONS
In a speech in Wales, Sir David Ramsbotham has spoken of the problems faced by women in prison and has called for 'community' prisons.
BBC News Online 15/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3191860.stm

TV-LINK IN SCOTLAND
A TV-link has been used in Scotland for the first time, to remand a prisoner to Barlinnie.
Times 14/10/03 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-2-853238,00.html

RIOTERS IN COURT
Twenty-one men charged with the Lincoln prison riot have appeared in court.
BBC News Online 14/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lincolnshire/3191320.stm
Sky News 14/10/03 http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-12824792,00.html

LINCOLN FACELIFT
Lincoln prison has had a cash boost to refurbish the prison following the riots last year.
BBC News Online 14/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lincolnshire/3189452.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 LEEDS
Report of a full unanounced inspection.
Published 17/10/03 - Report - Appendices - Press Release

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

Voluntary Sector

TIME TO LEARN: PRISONERS' VIEWS ON PRISON EDUCATION
The Prison Reform Trust launched a report this week (Wednesday) on prisoners' views of the prison education system. http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/news.html

NACRO AND INQUEST ANNOUNCE JOINT CAMPAIGN
Nacro are to join with Inquest to call for a public inquiry into the death of Joseph Scholes in a young offender institution last year. The campaign will be launched at Parliament in November. More details from Nacro's press office. Email

Parliament

Parliament will prorogue on 20th November in advance of the Queen's Speech on 26th November.

PQ: HEALTH OF PRISONERS
Helen Clark MP asked about the central collection of data relating to prisoners' health.
Commons Written Answers Col 226W - 14/10/03 - Link

PQ: NORTHERN IRELAND PRISON POPULATION
Lord Laird asked what the prison population in Northern Ireland has been in recent years.
Lords Written Answers Col WA105 - 14/10/03 - Link

DEBATE: CRIMINAL JUSTICE BILL
Baroness Helena Kennedy and others on the state of prisons and the potential impact of new sentencing proposals in the Bill.
Lords Hansard Col 772 - 14/10/03 - Link

DEBATE: HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE (COMMUNITY HEALTH AND STANDARDS) BILL
Baroness Finlay of Llandaff highlighted the problems faced by prisoners in need of healthcare.
Lords Hansard Col 640 - 14/10/03 - Link

PQ: PRISON POPULATION
Dominic Grieve MP asked about projections for the prison population.
Commons Hansard Col 258W - 15/10/03 - Link

PQ: ADVERTISING EXPENDITURE
David Laws MP asked how much Home Office agencies (including the Prison Service) spent on advertising and publicity in recent years.
Commons Hansard Col 260W - 15/10/03 - Link

DEBATE: CRIMINAL JUSTICE BILL
Lord Dholakia moved an amendment to the Bill which would Parliament to be advised if any prison were to hold more than it's Certified Normal Accommodation. The Amendment was withdrawn.
Lords Hansard Col 998 - 15/10/03 - Link

JUDGMENT: THE DEATH OF ZAHID MUBAREK
The Law Lords' judgment on an appeal against the Home Secretary's decision not to grant a public inquiry into the death of Zahid Mubarak at Feltham YOI in 2000.
HL [2003] UKHL 51 - 16/10/2003 - Link

Prison Population

The population of prisons in the United Kingdom on Friday 17th October 2003 was as follows:
This Week 81,762 - - Last Week 81,569 - - Last Year 80,445 - - Annual Change +1,317

England & Wales: This Week 74,023 - Last Week 73,835 - Last Year 72,922 - Annual Change +1,101
Northern Ireland: This Week 1,162 - Last Week 1,156 - Last Year 1,045 - Annual Change +117
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

HOWARD LEAGUE SEMINAR ON PURPOSEFUL ACTIVITY IN PRISON
Education Minister Ivan Lewis and Parole Board Member Dick Whitfield are among those speaking at a Howard League Seminar on Thursday. www.howardleague.org