As reported in the Guardian, Brixton Prison has failed another inspection…
It is easy to get drugs in Brixton prison, but not clean underwear, according to the latest inspection report on the London jail.
The chief inspector of prisons, Nick Hardwick, says the “evident and blatant” smell of cannabis on the wings at the Victorian-era jail goes unchallenged by staff while clean underpants for prisoners are rationed to two pairs a week.
The report, published on Tuesday following an inspection in July, says that although Brixton was designated a “resettlement prison” 12 months before their visit, inspectors found 751 inmates crammed into single cells built for only 505, and too many activities on hold waiting for new facilities to be ready.
“The prison was operating at about 60% over its certified normal capacity. Many prisoners shared small, cramped cells and some had inadequately screened toilets and because, at the time of the inspection, there was far too little activity for the size of the population, many were locked in their cells for more than 20 hours a day,” the chief inspector says in his introduction.
Hardwick says work was underway to provide new and refurbished buildings that should provide about 500 activity places. Plans also exist for a restaurant in the prison which would be staffed by inmates but open to the public.
But the inspectors say not enough was being done to get on immediately with necessary improvements and too much reliance was being placed on the planned enhancements to solve Brixton’s problems.
They say that in light of this it was not surprising to find very poor relationships between prisoners and staff and claims of high levels of victimisation by staff.
The inspection took place at the height of summer and the inspectors say they were concerned to find that new prisoners had been left in vans for up to two hours in the middle of the hottest days waiting to enter the jail. When the inspectors insisted the prisoners be taken out they were found to be “in a poor state”.
The inmates found it hard to get basic needs met, such as clean clothing and underwear. On some wings underwear was limited to two pairs per man per week despite a clothing exchange policy allowing seven pairs each week.
In contrast, 30% of prisoners said it was “easy” or “very easy” to get hold of drugs inside Brixton. This was twice the level of those – 15% – who said it was easy to get hold of alcohol inside the jail.
Michael Spurr, chief executive of the National Offender Management Service, said Brixton had continued to adapt to its new role since the inspection.
“In January the prison will see further changes with a new range of employment and education initiatives helping to increase productive time out of cell. This includes a new Clink Restaurant opening in February, which will give offenders the chance to learn the skills that can help them secure employment once they leave prison,” he said.
But Andrew Neilson, of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said the situation at Brixton where you can get drugs but not clean underpants, showed what happens when prisons are asked to accommodate hundreds more prisoners than they are designed for.
