News26-10-03

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

News

NSPCC CONDEMNS STRIP SEARCHES IN LOCAL AUTHORITY SECURE UNITS
The children's charity has condemned the strip searching of children as young as twelve in Local Authority Secure Units, following a Parliamentary Written Answer from Paul Goggins [below].
Telegraph 26/10/03 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2003%2F10%

INTERVIEW: ANNE OWERS, HM CHIEF INSPECTOR OF PRISONS
The Chief Inspector interviewed for the magazine Community Care.
Community Care 24/10/03 http://www.communitycare.co.uk/articles/article.asp?liarticleid=42609

PRISON STAFF TO REFUSE OVERTIME
Prison staff in Northern Ireland are stepping up campaigns for increased security following a number of attacks on their homes.
BBC News Online 24/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3212285.stm

PRISONER ON SUICIDE WATCH DIES
A prisoner at Strangeways was found hanging in the early hours after being placed on suicide watch.
BBC News Online 24/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/3211731.stm

'BAD GIRLS' - THE PLOT THICKENS
A star of the 'Footballers Wives' series is to be sent to prison - and will then appear in 'Bad Girls' as a prisoner, in a move thought to be a first for television.
Ananova 23/10/03 http://www.ananova.com/entertainment/story/sm_831653.html

CHIEF INSPECTOR CONDEMNS TREATMENT OF CHILDREN IN PRISON
In a speech to the British Institute of Human Rights, Anne Owers called for a huge change in the way in which children are treated in prisons.
Independent 23/10/03 http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/story.jsp?story=456222

SCOTTISH PRISON OVERCROWDING
Scotland's Chief Inspector of Prisons has called for urgent action on prison overcrowding.
BBC News Online 23/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3206893.stm
Herald 24/10/03 http://ww1.theherald.co.uk/news/3213.html
Scotsman 23/10/03 http://www.news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2088820

MAGHABERRY STRIKE THREATENED
Prison officers in Northern Ireland have threatened to strike after attacks on staff.
BBC News Online 23/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3205947.stm
BBC News Online 22/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3205489.stm
BBC News Online 21/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3210536.stm

PROFILE: LAWRIE WINSTON
An ex-prisoner, interviewed and profiled in The Guardian's Society section.
Guardian 22/10/03 http://society.guardian.co.uk/societyguardian/story/0,7843,1067633,00.html

WINCHESTER FACING £800K CUTS
A report leaked to the BBC shows how budget cuts could affect Winchester prison.
BBC News Online 22/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/dorset/3205945.stm

DEPRESSED OFFICER WINS £400,000
A prison officer from Swaleside prison in Kent is awarded around £400,000 by a tribunal.
Ananova 21/10/03 http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_831052.html
Telegraph 22/10/03 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2003%2F10%2F
Times 22/10/03 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-210-863657,00.html

NILSEN IN COURT OVER AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Counsel for Dennis Nilsen have been arguing that he should be allowed to publish his autobiography.
Ananova 20/10/03 http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_830539.html
BBC News Online 20/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3206516.stm
Evening Standard 20/10/03 http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/7256004
Guardian 20/10/03 http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1067184,00.html
Guardian 21/10/03 http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1067307,00.html
Sky News 21/10/03 http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-12848672,00.html
Reuters 20/10/03 http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=390
Scotsman 20/10/03 http://www.news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2073024
Scotsman 21/10/03 http://www.news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2078094
Sun 21/10/03 http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2003482773,00.html
Telegraph 21/10/03 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2003%2F10%2F2
Times 21/10/03 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-2-862224,00.html

'WRITING WRONGS'
An interview with a tutor from the Education Centre at HMP Brixton.
Evening Standard 21/10/03 http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/jobs/careernews/articles/7277379

BEDTIME STORIES FOR PRISONERS' CHILDREN
Prisoners at Magilligan prison are reading stories onto tape for their children in a new project.
BBC News Online 20/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3205692.stm

CHIEF INSPECTOR TO TARGET ASYLUM CENTRES
HM Chief Inspector of Prisons has said that she will visit asylum centres "without warning".
BBC News Online 20/10/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3206014.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 RYE HILL
Report of a full anounced inspection.
Published 22/10/03 - Report - Appendices - Press Release

ANNUAL REPORT
The Annual Report of HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland.
Published 22/10/03 - Report

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

Voluntary Sector

"BASIC SKILLS NO LONGER THE SOLE PRIORITY FOR PRISON EDUCATION"
Ivan Lewis, DFES Minister with responsibility for Prison Education, told a Howard League Conference that basic skills is no longer the sole priority for prison education. www.howardleague.org

Parliament

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

PQ: Aylesbury YOI - response to report of HMCIP
Question asked by David Lidington MP (Con, Aylesbury)
Commons Hansard 20/10/03 Col 408W Link

PQ: Home Detention Curfew - failures
Question asked by Simon Hughes MP (LD, Southwark North & Bermondsey)
Commons Hansard 20/10/03 Col 412W Link

PQ: Strip searching in Juvenile YOI's and Local Authority Secure Units
Question asked by Dr Rudi Vis MP (Lab, Finchley & Golders Green)
Commons Hansard 20/10/03 Col 414W Link

PQ: Northern Ireland Prison Budgets
Question asked by Eddie McGrady MP (SDLP, South Down)
Commons Hansard 20/10/03 Col 426W Link

PQ: Prisoners - Voting Rights
Question asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill (LD)
Lords Hansard 20/10/03 Col WA142 Link

PQ: Supplements to Prisoners' Diets
Question asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill (LD)
Lords Hansard 20/10/03 Col WA144 Link

PQ: Segregation at Brinsford YOI
Question asked by Dr Rudi Vis MP (Lab, Finchley & Golders Green)
Commons Hansard 21/10/03 Col 547W Link

PQ: Deaf prisoners
Question asked by Dominic Grieve MP (Con, Beaconsfield; Home Affairs Spokesman)
Commons Hansard 21/10/03 Col 549W Link

PQ: Release on temporary licence
Question asked by Paul Stinchcombe MP (Lab, Wellingborough)
Commons Hansard 21/10/03 Col 555W Link

PQ: Prison visiting facilities
Question asked by Claire Curtis-Thomas MP (Lab, Crosby; Member Home Affairs SC)
Commons Hansard 21/10/03 Col 556W Link

PQ: Imprisonment for non-payment of a TV Licence
Question asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick (Con)
Lords Hansard 22/10/03 Col WA177 Link

Prison Population

NB: We have not received Scottish statistics this week. Figures for Scotland represent last week.

The population of prisons in the United Kingdom on Friday 24th October 2003 was as follows:
This Week 81,744 - - Last Week 81,762 - - Last Year 80,561 - - Annual Change +1,183

England & Wales: This Week 73,987 - Last Week 74,023 - Last Year 73,033 - Annual Change +954
Northern Ireland: This Week 1,180 - Last Week 1,162 - Last Year 1,050 - Annual Change +130
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

SUICIDE AND SELF HARM PREVENTION: A STRATEGY FOR NORTHERN IRELAND
The Howard League for Penal Reform publish the latest in their series of reports into suicide and self-harm on Monday. www.howardleague.org

AILING JAILS - TIME FOR A CHECK UP
The Prison Reform Trust will publish statistics on Monday showing that half of all prisons do not have 24 hour medical cover. www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk