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| Pentonville Prison stabbing: Inmate killed and two injured | Pentonville Prison stabbing: Inmate killed and two injured |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A prisoner has died and two others were critically injured in a stabbing at HMP Pentonville, leading to claims the prison system is in a "dark place". | A prisoner has died and two others were critically injured in a stabbing at HMP Pentonville, leading to claims the prison system is in a "dark place". |
| The man in his 20s died at the London prison on Tuesday. The injured were taken to hospital with knife wounds. | The man in his 20s died at the London prison on Tuesday. The injured were taken to hospital with knife wounds. |
| Two prisoners, aged 34 and 26, have been arrested on suspicion of murder. | Two prisoners, aged 34 and 26, have been arrested on suspicion of murder. |
| The Prison Governors Association (PGA) said inmates were living in "squalid and brutal conditions". The government said it is trying to reduce violence. | The Prison Governors Association (PGA) said inmates were living in "squalid and brutal conditions". The government said it is trying to reduce violence. |
| According to the BBC's Home Affairs Correspondent Danny Shaw, there was an unconfirmed report that the stabbings occurred in the exercise yard and an air ambulance was called. | According to the BBC's Home Affairs Correspondent Danny Shaw, there was an unconfirmed report that the stabbings occurred in the exercise yard and an air ambulance was called. |
| How dangerous are our prisons? | |
| Following the attack, a PGA spokesman said: "Our members, uniformed staff and prisoners are working and living in squalid and brutal conditions which should not be tolerated in a country that is one of the richest in the Western world. | Following the attack, a PGA spokesman said: "Our members, uniformed staff and prisoners are working and living in squalid and brutal conditions which should not be tolerated in a country that is one of the richest in the Western world. |
| "If a society is judged by how it treats those it locks up, then we are in a very dark place." | "If a society is judged by how it treats those it locks up, then we are in a very dark place." |
| 'Significant increase in violence' | 'Significant increase in violence' |
| The association has renewed calls for a public inquiry amid what it said was an "unprecedented" rise in prison violence and suicides. | The association has renewed calls for a public inquiry amid what it said was an "unprecedented" rise in prison violence and suicides. |
| In response to those comments, a Ministry of Justice (MoJ) spokesperson said the justice secretary had made clear that safety in prisons was "fundamental to the proper functioning of our justice system and a vital part of our reform plans". | In response to those comments, a Ministry of Justice (MoJ) spokesperson said the justice secretary had made clear that safety in prisons was "fundamental to the proper functioning of our justice system and a vital part of our reform plans". |
| "We are fully committed to addressing the significant increase in violence, self-harm and self-inflicted deaths in our prisons," the spokesperson added. | "We are fully committed to addressing the significant increase in violence, self-harm and self-inflicted deaths in our prisons," the spokesperson added. |
| The MoJ said measures would include spending an extra £14m in 10 prisons and increasing staffing levels by more than 400 prison officers. | The MoJ said measures would include spending an extra £14m in 10 prisons and increasing staffing levels by more than 400 prison officers. |
| Analysis: BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Danny Shaw | Analysis: BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Danny Shaw |
| Pentonville's Governor Kevin Reilly has noted that in recent weeks people had "felt anxious" about violence at the jail. | Pentonville's Governor Kevin Reilly has noted that in recent weeks people had "felt anxious" about violence at the jail. |
| Writing in an internal newsletter, seen by BBC News, Mr Reilly said reducing violence was one of his "top five priorities". | Writing in an internal newsletter, seen by BBC News, Mr Reilly said reducing violence was one of his "top five priorities". |
| He said although there had been a slight reduction in violent incidents during the month, people remained concerned. | He said although there had been a slight reduction in violent incidents during the month, people remained concerned. |
| In July the Pentonville Independent Monitoring Board said the government should "knock down" or "urgently upgrade" the 174-year-old prison. | In July the Pentonville Independent Monitoring Board said the government should "knock down" or "urgently upgrade" the 174-year-old prison. |
| The board said the jail was "decrepit" and blamed the former legal high Spice for driving an illicit economy which in turn had led to violence, self-harm and bullying. | The board said the jail was "decrepit" and blamed the former legal high Spice for driving an illicit economy which in turn had led to violence, self-harm and bullying. |
| In its annual report on Pentonville, the board said there were 16 violent incidents each week but the number had fallen year on year. | |
| The Pentonville death is the third killing this year in jails in England and Wales, and the 11th since the start of 2015. | The Pentonville death is the third killing this year in jails in England and Wales, and the 11th since the start of 2015. |
| Visitors queuing to see friends and relatives inside the prison spoke of their safety concerns. | Visitors queuing to see friends and relatives inside the prison spoke of their safety concerns. |
| "My son is 21. I haven't felt the same since I heard the news," one woman said. | "My son is 21. I haven't felt the same since I heard the news," one woman said. |
| "As a mother everyone tells you at least you know where he is and he is safe - but actually he's not safe, is he? | "As a mother everyone tells you at least you know where he is and he is safe - but actually he's not safe, is he? |
| "No matter their age or what they have done, no-one deserves to die in prison." | "No matter their age or what they have done, no-one deserves to die in prison." |
| Former prisons minister Andrew Selous insisted money was being invested in recruiting new staff and building modern jails. | Former prisons minister Andrew Selous insisted money was being invested in recruiting new staff and building modern jails. |
| "What has happened is horrendous," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "What has happened is horrendous," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
| "I have met the parents of prisoners who have been murdered and it is horrific and my deepest sympathy goes out to all those affected." | "I have met the parents of prisoners who have been murdered and it is horrific and my deepest sympathy goes out to all those affected." |
| "The government absolutely gets the seriousness of the violence issues, there is a huge amount of work being done to reduce violence." | "The government absolutely gets the seriousness of the violence issues, there is a huge amount of work being done to reduce violence." |
| The director of the Prison Reform Trust, Peter Dawson, called for fewer people to be sent to jail to "reduce the pressure" on prisons. | |
| "The Victorians thought [Pentonville] could accommodate 900 prisoners... we say it can accommodate up to 1300. | |
| "That means in practice that almost everybody in a prison like Pentonville can expect to share a cell which the Victorians thought was fit for one person." | |
| 'Dramatic failure' | 'Dramatic failure' |
| No prison officers are understood to have been injured in the attack, the Prison Officers' Association said. | No prison officers are understood to have been injured in the attack, the Prison Officers' Association said. |
| In a statement, the union said "the unprecedented rise in violence in all of our prisons must not be underestimated". | In a statement, the union said "the unprecedented rise in violence in all of our prisons must not be underestimated". |
| It added: "We now ask for the Ministry of Justice to fully investigate this matter and the underlying problems within the prison estate." | It added: "We now ask for the Ministry of Justice to fully investigate this matter and the underlying problems within the prison estate." |
| In July 2015, the then Justice Secretary Michael Gove said: "Pentonville is the most dramatic example of failure within the prison estate, but its problems, while more acute than anywhere else, are very far from unique," | In July 2015, the then Justice Secretary Michael Gove said: "Pentonville is the most dramatic example of failure within the prison estate, but its problems, while more acute than anywhere else, are very far from unique," |
| A Prison Service spokesman said: "Police are investigating an incident at HMP Pentonville. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage." | A Prison Service spokesman said: "Police are investigating an incident at HMP Pentonville. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage." |
| Pentonville Prison | Pentonville Prison |