Rochester prison: vermin-infested and unsafe 

The Howard League for Penal Reform has responded to HM Inspectorate of Prisons’ report on Rochester prison, published today (Tuesday 12 November).

Inspectors visited the prison, in Kent, in August 2024 and found dilapidated accommodation, rising violence and self-harm, and widespread drug use. 

Conditions were so bad that inspectors invoked an urgent notification, giving the Secretary of State for Justice 28 days to respond with an action plan for improvement. 

Rochester prison, now also containing the rerolled Cookham Wood young offenders institution, was marked for closure a few years ago but remains open largely due to the prison capacity crisis. 

Inspectors visiting the prison found people using cardboard and towels to fill gaps under doors to keep rats and mice from invading cells. The prison was found to be increasingly unsafe, with assaults against prisoners up by 67% over the past year, self-harm up 79% since the last inspection in 2021, and the positive drug testing rate at 42%. 

Andrea Coomber KC (Hon.), Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: “This report into Rochester prison underlines the terrible situation that the current government inherited on taking office. But it also underlines the fact that government ministers can only use that as an excuse for so long.  

“The recent Budget contained funding to boost staffing and for prison maintenance, which should help struggling prisons like Rochester. But the sentencing review announced last month remains key to transforming the prison system, and that will take some months to deliver its findings. 

“One thing is for sure. If we are still seeing inspection reports like this in a year’s time, then the government will have only itself to blame.” 

Notes to editors 

1. The Howard League for Penal Reform is the oldest penal reform charity in the world. It is a national charity working for less crime, safer communities and fewer people in prison.

2. The inspection report for Rochester prison will be available on the HM Inspectorate of Prisons website at: https://hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/our-reports/  

Contact 

 Noor Khan
Press and Public Affairs Officer
Tel: +44 (0)20 7241 7873
Email: noor.khan@howardleague.org