Abstract
Published in October 2017, this report is part of a series, which focuses on daily life in adult prisons and young offender institutions. The paper draws on existing literature surrounding prison cell conditions as well as recent inspections by HMI Prisons and survey data from inspection reports published between 1 April 2016 and 31 March 2017. Peter Clarke HM Chief Inspector of Prisons states in his introduction that some people may feel a sense of déjà vu or world-weariness when they hear accounts of poor conditions in prisons. He asks readers to give thought to the details within the report and consider whether it is acceptable for prisoners to be held in these conditions in the UK in 2017.
It is certainly true that the themes in this report are disturbingly familiar. Overcrowding is highlighted with figures from Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) themselves indicating that in 2016/17 nearly 21,000 prisoners out of 85,000 were held, by their own definition, in overcrowded conditions. It was found that overcrowding was highest in male local prisons, where 48 per cent of prisoners lived in crowded conditions equating to 15,313 out of 31,864 prisoners. Not only were prisoners living in overcrowded conditions and ‘doubling up’ in cells designed for single occupancy, but shared cells were found to be cramped. The majority of cells inspected did not meet the required minimum standard for living space of four square metres per person, as set by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
The inspectors had an expectation that prisoners spend at least ten hours outside their cells on weekdays. Unfortunately, this was an expectation that was rarely met. In the inspection surveys it was found that only 14 per cent of adult prisoners reported spending more than ten hours out of their cell and 21 per cent reported spending less than two hours out on weekdays. Those in young adult and local prisons reported spending the most time in their cells. A 2016 inspection of HMP Cardiff found that prisoners could be locked up for a shocking 27 hours. Inspectors found that the living conditions of cells varied greatly, from clean, well equipped and spacious to cramped, squalid and unsuitable for habitation. Unfortunately, common problems were the lack of or broken furniture, poor decoration, damp, damage to flooring, dangerous exposed wiring, graffiti, litter and vermin infestations.
Perhaps one of the most striking findings in the inspections were issues that prisoners had with toilets and sanitation facilities. The cleanliness of cell toilets was often found to be poor. Many in-cell toilets lacked lids and had no appropriate screening, resulting in bacteria from the toilet being sprayed into the cell when the toilet was flushed. This was of particular concern for prisoners who were forced to eat in their cell in close proximity to toilets. Prisoners fashioned improvised toilet lids from cardboard, wooden boards, pillowcases or food trays. Prisoners complained of the humiliation and lack of dignity in having to defecate feet away from their cellmate on an unscreened toilet.
The report concludes with a number of recommendations on overcrowding, living space per prisoner and the physical conditions and facilities appropriate for everyday life in cells. The whole report is well worth reading and will give practitioners an idea of the challenges that their clients will face in custody and which may affect their ability to engage with rehabilitative activities.
Life in Prison: Living Conditions A findings paper by HM Inspectorate of Prisons (October 2017) is available in full at: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/inspections/life-in-prison-living-conditions/