The atrocious state of English and Welsh prisons is well documented. In the past six months, inspectors have issued urgent notifications about conditions in three jails. Earlier this year, a German court rejected an extradition request by the UK government on the grounds that the suspect’s safety could not be guaranteed. The view of Charlie Taylor, the chief inspector, is that 14 Victorian prisons are so decrepit that they should be closed down.
The outcry following the recent escape by Daniel Khalife from HMP Wandsworth drew attention to staffing issues. That day, 80 prison officers – 40% of the total – were absent. Now, a Guardian investigation has revealed that prison officers are quitting to work for the police or Border Force instead – a particular problem for prisons near ports or airports – while the Prison Officers’ Association believes criminal gangs are sending members to work in prisons in order to smuggle drugs and phones. Staffing levels in jails including Feltham are so low that psychologists have had to talk to young offenders through cell doors, instead of in therapy rooms. One prison officer described violence there as “off the scale”.
