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HMP Pentonville heavily criticised in report HMP Pentonville heavily criticised in report
(35 minutes later)
Job losses at a male prison in London are having "serious consequences", with wardens losing track of inmates' whereabouts, inspectors have said.Job losses at a male prison in London are having "serious consequences", with wardens losing track of inmates' whereabouts, inspectors have said.
HMP Pentonville also had high levels of drug use among inmates, according to a report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons.HMP Pentonville also had high levels of drug use among inmates, according to a report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons.
Inspectors also found that more than 1,200 men were being held there, 35% above its normal accommodation level. Inspectors found that more than 1,200 men were being held at the prison, 35% above its normal accommodation level.
Prison staff who were to take redundancy were still working there, and their attitudes were "detrimental". The chief inspector of prisons, Nick Hardwick, has questioned the prison's viability if issues are not resolved.
Inspectors said: "The staffing reductions the prison was required to make were having a number of serious consequences.Inspectors said: "The staffing reductions the prison was required to make were having a number of serious consequences.
"Prisoners struggled with basic needs such as access to showers, telephones and cleaning materials.""Prisoners struggled with basic needs such as access to showers, telephones and cleaning materials."
Inspectors found the prison population to be especially "needy and challenging". Half of the inmates were being held on remand for less than six months.Inspectors found the prison population to be especially "needy and challenging". Half of the inmates were being held on remand for less than six months.
The report, which was based on an unannounced inspection last summer, also found that:The report, which was based on an unannounced inspection last summer, also found that:
Chief inspector of prisons Nick Hardwick said: "It is clear that Pentonville cannot operate as a modern 21st Century prison without investment in its physical condition, adequate staffing levels to manage its complex population and effective support from the centre. Mr Hardwick said: "It is clear that Pentonville cannot operate as a modern 21st Century prison without investment in its physical condition, adequate staffing levels to manage its complex population and effective support from the centre.
"If these things cannot be provided, considerations should be given to whether HMP Pentonville has a viable future.""If these things cannot be provided, considerations should be given to whether HMP Pentonville has a viable future."
'Stable regime''Stable regime'
Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said the Ministry of Justice was pushing through "unsustainable budget cuts" without addressing the overall demand prisons like Pentonville face.Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said the Ministry of Justice was pushing through "unsustainable budget cuts" without addressing the overall demand prisons like Pentonville face.
But Michael Spurr, chief executive of the National Offender Management Service, the executive agency of the Ministry of Justice which runs prisons and probation services in England and Wales, said the prison would receive the support it requires.But Michael Spurr, chief executive of the National Offender Management Service, the executive agency of the Ministry of Justice which runs prisons and probation services in England and Wales, said the prison would receive the support it requires.
"At the time of the inspection the prison was transitioning to new staffing profiles and new working arrangements which will provide a decent, consistent and stable regime for prisoners going forward," he said."At the time of the inspection the prison was transitioning to new staffing profiles and new working arrangements which will provide a decent, consistent and stable regime for prisoners going forward," he said.