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'Dangerous' prisoners' living conditions criticised 'Dangerous' prisoner living conditions criticised
(about 4 hours later)
Some of the living conditions in which the most dangerous prisoners are kept have been criticised by Her Majesty's Inspector of Prisons. Some of the living conditions in which the most dangerous prisoners are kept have been criticised by the independent inspectorate of prisons.
Nick Hardwick visited close supervision centres, which hold about 60 men in eight prisons in England and Wales.Nick Hardwick visited close supervision centres, which hold about 60 men in eight prisons in England and Wales.
He said prisoners could barely see daylight from their cells and exercise in yards resembling "austere cages".He said prisoners could barely see daylight from their cells and exercise in yards resembling "austere cages".
But Mr Hardwick also said the centres managed inmates with "impressive" care and humanity.But Mr Hardwick also said the centres managed inmates with "impressive" care and humanity.
This, he added, was considering how difficult the prisoners held in such centres were.This, he added, was considering how difficult the prisoners held in such centres were.
As part of the inspection, it was found that prisoners could see no unobstructed daylight from their cells. One prisoner described his unit as "like a submarine".As part of the inspection, it was found that prisoners could see no unobstructed daylight from their cells. One prisoner described his unit as "like a submarine".
The system of close supervision centres was set up in 1998 and deals with prisoners subject to prison rule 46, which allows them to be detained away from other inmates, because they are so dangerous. What are close supervision centres?
Close supervision centres (CSC) hold the most dangerous inmates in the prison system - many of whom have committed further, very serious offences in prison. They are sometimes referred to as a "prison within a prison".
The system was set up in 1998 and deals with prisoners subject to prison rule 46, which allows them to be detained away from other inmates because of the risk they pose.
Her Majesty's Inspector of Prisons describes the system as "extreme custody" whose management raises "complex operational challenges and profound ethical issues".
The centres have capacity for 60 men, and a further 14 in similar but slightly less restrictive conditions, and are by a centralised team within the prison service.
Prisoners are held in designated CSC cells or segregation units within larger prisons, such as Belmarsh and Full Sutton, and are highly supervised.
Source: HM Inspectorate of Prisons
Mr Hardwick said the exercise yards - with grilles overhead - were "grim, dehumanising" and "unacceptably oppressive". Some prisoners were only allowed to talk to visiting relatives through a barred window.Mr Hardwick said the exercise yards - with grilles overhead - were "grim, dehumanising" and "unacceptably oppressive". Some prisoners were only allowed to talk to visiting relatives through a barred window.
'Unfairness' concerns Last November one prisoner attacked another, causing an acute brain injury and a three-month stay in hospital.
Last November one prisoner attacked another, causing an acute brain injury and a three month stay in hospital.
But Mr Hardwick said that, overall, violence in close supervision centres was low.But Mr Hardwick said that, overall, violence in close supervision centres was low.
'Unfairness' concerns
He also said staff leadership of the system as a whole was "clear, principled and courageous", but expressed concern about the mental health of the prisoners, because of the tightly-controlled conditions they were kept in.He also said staff leadership of the system as a whole was "clear, principled and courageous", but expressed concern about the mental health of the prisoners, because of the tightly-controlled conditions they were kept in.
"Given the restricted nature of the regimes offered and most men's inability to move out of the units, more needed to be done to offset the real potential for psychological deterioration by the more imaginative provision of both in and out of cell activities," the report urged. "Given the restricted nature of the regimes offered and most men's inability to move out of the units, more needed to be done to offset the real potential for psychological deterioration by the more imaginative provision of both in and out of cell activities," the report, by Her Majesty's Inspector of Prisons, urged.
"The reasons why a disproportionate number of black and minority ethnic and Muslim men were held in the system needed to be better understood, and action taken to address any identified issues of unfairness," the inspector also said. "The reasons why a disproportionate number of black and minority ethnic and Muslim men were held in the system needed to be better understood, and action taken to address any identified issues of unfairness."