Rotting rodents and leaking sewage: The prison system, as witnessed by volunteers on independent monitoring boards

The Howard League for Penal Reform has responded to the Independent Monitoring Boards’ thematic monitoring report, The impact of a crumbling prison estate on prisoners, published today (Wednesday 27 November).

Rob Preece, Communications Manager at the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: “Cockroach infestations. Rotting rodents. Broken windows. Leaking sewage. Coming only a week after the government revealed that there are 23,000 cells still requiring fire safety upgrades, this report presents further evidence of the urgent need for change in the prison system.

“If someone is sent to prison, we should do all that we can to help them to turn their life around and move on from crime. But many people are locked in overcrowded cells with nothing to do for up to 23 hours a day, in crumbling jails that have been asked to do too much, with too little, for too long.

“The government was right to address the urgent capacity crisis, but further steps to reduce the prison population will be needed to achieve a lasting solution. Instead of wasting billions on building new jails, we should focus our attention on fixing the problems in the ones we already have.”

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. For more information about the crumbling infrastructure in the prison estate, read this May 2024 blogpost.
3. For more information about prison overcrowding, read ‘Why are prisons overcrowded?’.
4. Giving evidence to the Justice Committee on Tuesday 19 November, the prisons minister, Lord Timpson, said that there were 23,000 cells in the prison estate requiring fire safety upgrades. A transcript of the evidence session can be found here.
5. For more information about the Independent Monitoring Boards’ thematic monitoring report, The impact of a crumbling prison estate on prisoners, email: [email protected]

Contact

Rob Preece
Communications Manager
Tel: +44 (0)7714 604955
Email: [email protected]