Latest news with #HMPPentonville
Sky News
4 days ago
- Sky News
No bedding, sleeping guards and cockroaches: chief prisons inspector on why HMP Pentonville is in special measures
The chief inspector of prisons has described the sense of "helplessness" at Pentonville prison after the jail was put into special measures by a watchdog. Charlie Taylor, the chief inspector of prisons, described "bleak" conditions at the north London prison, where he said inmates had been illegally detained longer than their release date and supervised by staff who were either reading books or asleep. Mr Taylor served an urgent notification on HMP Pentonville after an inspection discovered that 130 inmates - 20% of those eligible for release - had been held illegally after their release date in the last six months because staff "failed to calculate sentences accurately". The backlog in sentencing calculations also meant 10 prisoners had been released early "in error" between July 2024 and June 2025. The watchdog's report also found that 60% of prisoners were sharing cells that were designed for one person, many living areas were dirty and that there was a widespread infestation of mice and cockroaches. Speaking to Sky News Breakfast, Mr Taylor said he had been forced to use the "rare" power of putting a prison in special measures because of the "chaos" at Pentonville. "This is a big, busy London reception prison, Victorian, crumbling," he said. "But particularly worrying, we found new arrivals were coming into the jail with no bedding, no pillows. I came across a guy who had only half a mattress in his room on his first night in prison. "We found prison staff who couldn't account for where their prisoners were during the day. We found prisoners who were on constant watch, who were on suicide watch, being supervised by staff who were reading books, who were asleep in one case, and in one case, completely absent." Pentonville is the 10th prison to be issued with an urgent notification since November 2022, following Exeter, Cookham Wood Young Offender Institution, Woodhill, Bedford, Wandsworth, Rochester, Manchester and Winchester prisons. The emergency measure was introduced in 2017 as a way to raise immediate concerns following an inspection, which requires a response and action plan by the justice secretary within 28 days. In a letter to Shabana Mahmood, the justice secretary, Mr Taylor said arrangements for new prisoners' first night at the north London jail and induction were "chaotic and even frightening", with the majority of prisoners were locked in their cells for more than 22 hours a day. Inspectors took emergency action after they found care of vulnerable prisoners under constant supervision was "shockingly poor", with one prison officer found asleep, two were reading books and another was "completely absent". The "unacceptable practices" in looking after these prisoners, deemed at serious risk of self-harm, were a particular concern for inspectors given three suicides at the jail in 2025. Mr Taylor told Sky News there was a sense of "helplessness" at Pentonville. "There was a sense that this is Pentonville and there's nothing we can do, and it's all too difficult and just a lack of real morale amongst many of the staff members that we talked to, despite many of them doing a really good job in difficult circumstances," he said. "It was a pretty bleak place. It was very noisy. It was violent, drugs are getting into the jail and really it needs some proper grip from the prison service if it's going to make progress." A survey of prisoners also revealed 44% told inspectors they felt unsafe at the time of inspection, which the watchdog said was the highest figure recorded during his tenure as chief inspector. Prisons minister Lord James Timpson said he visited the prison on Thursday, where the team is already working to urgently address the concerns raised by the chief inspector. An action plan will also be published in the coming weeks to support the efforts. Lord Timpson said: "This government will end the chaos we inherited in our jails. "We are building 14,000 new prison places and reforming sentencing so our jails reduce reoffending, cut crime, and keep victims safe."
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Telegraph
Prisoners released early in ‘sentencing error'
Criminals have been released from jail early 'in error' or illegally held longer than their release date at a 'dysfunctional' jail, watchdogs have revealed. Charlie Taylor, the chief inspector of prisons, has served an urgent notification on HMP Pentonville after discovering that scores of inmates have been kept in prison after they should have been freed or accidentally released early because staff 'failed to calculate sentences accurately'. The watchdog said data from the prison showed 130 inmates – 20 per cent of those eligible for release – had been held illegally after their release date in the past six months. Ten prisoners were released early 'in error' between July 2024 and June 2025. In a letter to the Justice Secretary, the chief inspector said arrangements for new prisoners' first night at the north London jail and induction were 'chaotic and even frightening'. Men were held in dirty cells missing bedding, furniture, telephones and pillows, the watchdog said. The majority of prisoners were locked in their cells for more than 22 hours a day. The report also said 60 per cent of prisoners were sharing cells designed for one person, many living areas were dirty and there was a widespread infestation of mice and cockroaches. Inspectors took emergency action after they found oversight of prisoners under constant supervision was 'shockingly poor', with one prison officer found asleep, two reading books and another 'completely absent'. The 'unacceptable practices' in the care of prisoners under constant supervision was a particular concern for inspectors given three suicides at the jail in 2025. 'Shocking failures' Mr Taylor said: 'Pentonville is an overcrowded, inner-city, Victorian prison with a record of poor performance over many years. 'Too many of its staff have become disillusioned about the possibility of improvement or their capacity to affect change. Yet many of its shocking failures are firmly within the control of leaders. 'The governor will need significant support and investment from HM Prison and Probation Service to strengthen his senior leadership team, re-focus on the basics and put in place effective oversight and assurance systems to turn this failing prison around.' A survey of prisoners also revealed that 44 per cent told inspectors they felt unsafe at the time of inspection, which the watchdog said was the highest figure recorded during his tenure as chief inspector. Pentonville is the 10th prison to be issued with an urgent notification since November 2022, following Exeter, Cookham Wood Young Offender Institution, Woodhill, Bedford, Wandsworth, Rochester, Manchester and Winchester prisons. The emergency measure was introduced in 2017 as a way to raise immediate concerns following an inspection, which requires a response and action plan by the Justice Secretary within 28 days. Elsewhere, the inspector's report also found that when releases were planned, 23 per cent of those prisoners were homeless on the day they were released, and very few had employment on release. 'Undermines effective sentence planning' Reacting to the urgent notification, Pia Sinha, the Prison Reform Trust chief executive, said: 'Prisoners illegally held after they should have been released, or others released early in error, further undermine effective sentence planning and erode public confidence. 'This urgent notification must be a rallying cry for immediate action – fix the failing infrastructure, improve staff training and treat prisoners with dignity.' Andrew Neilson, the director of campaigns at the Howard League for Penal Reform, said the findings of the inspection were 'outrageous' and represent a 'new low' for an overcrowded public service on the brink of collapse. He added: 'While the Government inherited a dire state of affairs in prisons, it has had more than a year to bring about change. 'As report cards go, such a dire account of dysfunction in Pentonville instils little confidence that ministers have a grip of the situation.'
BBC News
4 days ago
- BBC News
'Cockroach-infested' Pentonville Prison illegally detains inmates
A cockroach-infested prison that illegally detained inmates for longer than their release date in "frightening conditions" has been put into special inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor served an urgent notification on HMP Pentonville in Islington, north London, after an inspection discovered many inmates had been kept there after they should have been freed because staff "failed to calculate sentences accurately".The watchdog said data showed 130 inmates, 20% of those eligible for release, had been held after their release date in the past six Minister for Prisons, Lord Timpson, said: "The team is already working to urgently address the concerns raised." "We will publish an action plan in the coming weeks to support them in these efforts," he said. 'Shocking failures' The watchdog also found 10 inmates had been released early "in error" between July 2024 and June a letter to the justice secretary, the chief inspector said arrangements for new prisoners' induction and first night at the jail were "chaotic and even frightening".Men were held in dirty cells missing bedding, furniture, telephones and pillows, the watchdog said, while the majority of prisoners were locked in their cells for more than 22 hours a report also said 60% of prisoners at the Category B prison were sharing cells that were designed for one person, and there was a widespread infestation of mice and took emergency action after they found oversight of prisoners under constant supervision was "shockingly poor". One prison officer was found asleep, two were reading books and another was "completely absent".The "unacceptable practices" in the care of prisoners under constant supervision was a particular concern for inspectors, given that there were three suicides at the jail in 2025. 'Rallying cry' Mr Taylor said: "Pentonville is an overcrowded, inner-city, Victorian prison with a record of poor performance over many years."Too many of its staff have become disillusioned about the possibility of improvement or their capacity to effect change."Yet many of its shocking failures are firmly within the control of leaders."He added: "The governor will need significant support and investment from HM Prison and Probation Service to strengthen his senior leadership team, refocus on the basics and put in place effective oversight and assurance systems to turn this failing prison around." Pentonville is the 10th prison to be issued with an urgent notification since November response to the chief inspector's findings, a Prison Reform Trust spokesperson said: "This urgent notification must be a rallying cry for immediate action – fix the failing infrastructure, improve staff training, and treat prisoners with dignity."Lord Timpson added: "This government will end the chaos we inherited in our jails. We are building 14,000 new prison places and reforming sentencing so our jails reduce reoffending, cut crime and keep victims safe."
North Wales Chronicle
4 days ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Prison illegally detaining inmates after release date put in special measures
Chief inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor has served an urgent notification on HMP Pentonville after an inspection discovered many inmates have been kept in prison after they should have been freed because staff 'failed to calculate sentences accurately'. The watchdog said data from the prison showed 130 inmates – 20% of those eligible for release – had been held illegally after their release date in the last six months. The backlog in sentencing calculations also meant 10 prisoners had been released early 'in error' between July 2024 and June 2025. In a letter to the Justice Secretary, the chief inspector said arrangements for new prisoners' first night at the north London jail and induction were 'chaotic and even frightening'. Men were held in dirty cells missing bedding, furniture, telephones and pillows, the watchdog said, while the majority of prisoners were locked in their cells for more than 22 hours a day. The report also said 60% of prisoners were sharing cells that were designed for one person, many living areas were dirty and there was a widespread infestation of mice and cockroaches. Inspectors took emergency action after they found care of vulnerable prisoners under constant supervision was 'shockingly poor', with one prison officer found asleep, two were reading books and another was 'completely absent'. The 'unacceptable practices' in looking after these prisoners, deemed at serious risk of self-harm, were a particular concern for inspectors given three suicides at the jail in 2025. Mr Taylor said: 'Pentonville is an overcrowded, inner-city, Victorian prison with a record of poor performance over many years. 'Too many of its staff have become disillusioned about the possibility of improvement or their capacity to affect change. Yet many of its shocking failures are firmly within the control of leaders. 'The governor will need significant support and investment from HM Prison and Probation Service to strengthen his senior leadership team, re-focus on the basics, and put in place effective oversight and assurance systems to turn this failing prison around.' A survey of prisoners also revealed 44% told inspectors they felt unsafe at the time of inspection, which the watchdog said was the highest figure recorded during his tenure as chief inspector. Pentonville is the 10th prison to be issued with an urgent notification since November 2022, following Exeter, Cookham Wood Young Offender Institution, Woodhill, Bedford, Wandsworth, Rochester, Manchester and Winchester prisons. The emergency measure was introduced in 2017 as a way to raise immediate concerns following an inspection, which requires a response and action plan by the Justice Secretary within 28 days. Elsewhere, the inspector's report also found when releases were planned, 23% of those prisoners were homeless on the day they were released, and very few had employment on release. Reacting to the urgent notification, Prison Reform Trust chief executive Pia Sinha said: 'Prisoners illegally held after they should have been released, or others released early in error, further undermine effective sentence planning and erode public confidence. 'This urgent notification must be a rallying cry for immediate action – fix the failing infrastructure, improve staff training, and treat prisoners with dignity.' Andrew Neilson, director of campaigns at the Howard League for Penal Reform, said the findings of the inspection were 'outrageous' and represent a 'new low' for an overcrowded public service on the brink of collapse. He added: 'While the Government inherited a dire state of affairs in prisons, it has had more than a year to bring about change. 'As report cards go, such a dire account of dysfunction in Pentonville instils little confidence that ministers have a grip of the situation.' Prisons minister Lord James Timpson said he visited the prison on Thursday, where the team is already working to urgently address the concerns raised by the chief inspector. An action plan will also be published in the coming weeks to support the efforts. Lord Timpson said: 'This Government will end the chaos we inherited in our jails. 'We are building 14,000 new prison places and reforming sentencing so our jails reduce reoffending, cut crime, and keep victims safe.'
Rhyl Journal
4 days ago
- Rhyl Journal
Prison illegally detaining inmates after release date put in special measures
Chief inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor has served an urgent notification on HMP Pentonville after an inspection discovered many inmates have been kept in prison after they should have been freed because staff 'failed to calculate sentences accurately'. The watchdog said data from the prison showed 130 inmates – 20% of those eligible for release – had been held illegally after their release date in the last six months. The backlog in sentencing calculations also meant 10 prisoners had been released early 'in error' between July 2024 and June 2025. In a letter to the Justice Secretary, the chief inspector said arrangements for new prisoners' first night at the north London jail and induction were 'chaotic and even frightening'. Men were held in dirty cells missing bedding, furniture, telephones and pillows, the watchdog said, while the majority of prisoners were locked in their cells for more than 22 hours a day. The report also said 60% of prisoners were sharing cells that were designed for one person, many living areas were dirty and there was a widespread infestation of mice and cockroaches. Inspectors took emergency action after they found care of vulnerable prisoners under constant supervision was 'shockingly poor', with one prison officer found asleep, two were reading books and another was 'completely absent'. The 'unacceptable practices' in looking after these prisoners, deemed at serious risk of self-harm, were a particular concern for inspectors given three suicides at the jail in 2025. Mr Taylor said: 'Pentonville is an overcrowded, inner-city, Victorian prison with a record of poor performance over many years. 'Too many of its staff have become disillusioned about the possibility of improvement or their capacity to affect change. Yet many of its shocking failures are firmly within the control of leaders. 'The governor will need significant support and investment from HM Prison and Probation Service to strengthen his senior leadership team, re-focus on the basics, and put in place effective oversight and assurance systems to turn this failing prison around.' A survey of prisoners also revealed 44% told inspectors they felt unsafe at the time of inspection, which the watchdog said was the highest figure recorded during his tenure as chief inspector. Pentonville is the 10th prison to be issued with an urgent notification since November 2022, following Exeter, Cookham Wood Young Offender Institution, Woodhill, Bedford, Wandsworth, Rochester, Manchester and Winchester prisons. The emergency measure was introduced in 2017 as a way to raise immediate concerns following an inspection, which requires a response and action plan by the Justice Secretary within 28 days. Elsewhere, the inspector's report also found when releases were planned, 23% of those prisoners were homeless on the day they were released, and very few had employment on release. Reacting to the urgent notification, Prison Reform Trust chief executive Pia Sinha said: 'Prisoners illegally held after they should have been released, or others released early in error, further undermine effective sentence planning and erode public confidence. 'This urgent notification must be a rallying cry for immediate action – fix the failing infrastructure, improve staff training, and treat prisoners with dignity.' Andrew Neilson, director of campaigns at the Howard League for Penal Reform, said the findings of the inspection were 'outrageous' and represent a 'new low' for an overcrowded public service on the brink of collapse. He added: 'While the Government inherited a dire state of affairs in prisons, it has had more than a year to bring about change. 'As report cards go, such a dire account of dysfunction in Pentonville instils little confidence that ministers have a grip of the situation.' Prisons minister Lord James Timpson said he visited the prison on Thursday, where the team is already working to urgently address the concerns raised by the chief inspector. An action plan will also be published in the coming weeks to support the efforts. Lord Timpson said: 'This Government will end the chaos we inherited in our jails. 'We are building 14,000 new prison places and reforming sentencing so our jails reduce reoffending, cut crime, and keep victims safe.'
