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Prison lights-out policy could worsen mental health crisis, campaigners say Prison lights-out policy could worsen mental health crisis, campaigners say
(about 17 hours later)
Plans to impose a strict 10.30pm lights out policy in prisons could worsen the mental health crisis in Britain's jails as vulnerable young inmates are forced into darkness, campaigners have claimed.Plans to impose a strict 10.30pm lights out policy in prisons could worsen the mental health crisis in Britain's jails as vulnerable young inmates are forced into darkness, campaigners have claimed.
Frances Crook, the chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, warned of the "terrifying" rate of suicides in prisons and called on the government to rethink its plan, saying it will leave young prisoners in isolation for too many hours.Frances Crook, the chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, warned of the "terrifying" rate of suicides in prisons and called on the government to rethink its plan, saying it will leave young prisoners in isolation for too many hours.
Chris Grayling, the justice secretary, issued orders earlier this year to turn out lights and televisions in the cells of young offenders at 10.30pm sharp to enforce earlier bed times. The restriction, affecting those aged 15 to 17, is aimed at imposing stricter discipline and to prevent inmates from staying up all night.Chris Grayling, the justice secretary, issued orders earlier this year to turn out lights and televisions in the cells of young offenders at 10.30pm sharp to enforce earlier bed times. The restriction, affecting those aged 15 to 17, is aimed at imposing stricter discipline and to prevent inmates from staying up all night.
Crook said: "They are plunged into darkness alone and with no one to talk to until the next morning. You don't need to be a psychologist to realise that this is very dangerous.Crook said: "They are plunged into darkness alone and with no one to talk to until the next morning. You don't need to be a psychologist to realise that this is very dangerous.
"The very experience of prison is damaging to your mental health but imagine if you have had bouts of depression in the past or any kind of mental health problem and are then locked up in a cell for 22 hours a day with stinking ventilation and really a rather grotty diet for weeks on end."The very experience of prison is damaging to your mental health but imagine if you have had bouts of depression in the past or any kind of mental health problem and are then locked up in a cell for 22 hours a day with stinking ventilation and really a rather grotty diet for weeks on end.
"That is the prison experience today and so even people who have not had mental health problems and are quite robust will be badly damaged by the prison experience." Her comments came as Grayling on Tuesday denied that there was a crisis in the prison system. He admitted that there were staff shortages in certain facilities and that there had been an unexpected increase in the number of inmates convicted of sex offences after the Jimmy Savile scandal. But he maintained the government was "meeting those challenges"."That is the prison experience today and so even people who have not had mental health problems and are quite robust will be badly damaged by the prison experience." Her comments came as Grayling on Tuesday denied that there was a crisis in the prison system. He admitted that there were staff shortages in certain facilities and that there had been an unexpected increase in the number of inmates convicted of sex offences after the Jimmy Savile scandal. But he maintained the government was "meeting those challenges".
As many as 90% of inmates have at least one diagnosed mental health disorder, while one in 10 has serious mental health problems at any one time. Twenty percent of prisoners have four of the five major mental health disorders (depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, schizophrenia and autism).As many as 90% of inmates have at least one diagnosed mental health disorder, while one in 10 has serious mental health problems at any one time. Twenty percent of prisoners have four of the five major mental health disorders (depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, schizophrenia and autism).
Between 2013 and 2014, 88 inmates in English and Welsh prisons took their own lives – up from 52 in 2012-13. Nick Hardwick, the chief inspector of prisons, warned earlier this year that overcrowding and staff shortages in England were leading to an increase in the number of inmates killing themselves.Between 2013 and 2014, 88 inmates in English and Welsh prisons took their own lives – up from 52 in 2012-13. Nick Hardwick, the chief inspector of prisons, warned earlier this year that overcrowding and staff shortages in England were leading to an increase in the number of inmates killing themselves.
In Grayling's first comments on prisons since a recent run of stories highlighting overcrowding, violence and suicides, the justice secretary told Radio 4's the Today programme: "We are looking to make sure that we can continue to deliver a safe and appropriate prison regime in a world where budgets are much lower than they were in the past.In Grayling's first comments on prisons since a recent run of stories highlighting overcrowding, violence and suicides, the justice secretary told Radio 4's the Today programme: "We are looking to make sure that we can continue to deliver a safe and appropriate prison regime in a world where budgets are much lower than they were in the past.
"We've actually got a prison estate where violence today is at a lower level than it was five years ago. We've got challenges from an increased population that was not expected in the last 12 months."We've actually got a prison estate where violence today is at a lower level than it was five years ago. We've got challenges from an increased population that was not expected in the last 12 months.
"We are meeting those challenges, we are recruiting more staff – but I'm absolutely clear there is not a crisis in our prisons. There are pressures, which we are facing, but there is not a crisis." The shadow justice secretary, Sadiq Khan, accused Grayling of "burying his head in the sand about the crisis in our prisons"."We are meeting those challenges, we are recruiting more staff – but I'm absolutely clear there is not a crisis in our prisons. There are pressures, which we are facing, but there is not a crisis." The shadow justice secretary, Sadiq Khan, accused Grayling of "burying his head in the sand about the crisis in our prisons".
He said: "Under David Cameron and Chris Grayling there has been a complete leadership gap in the criminal justice system, which has led to deteriorating jails, increasing violence in prisons and less and less being done to rehabilitate offenders and treat those with poor mental health."He said: "Under David Cameron and Chris Grayling there has been a complete leadership gap in the criminal justice system, which has led to deteriorating jails, increasing violence in prisons and less and less being done to rehabilitate offenders and treat those with poor mental health."
On Tuesday, concerns about the impact of staff shortages and restricted emergency regimes on prisoner mental health were also brought into sharp focus once again with a report by Hardwick's office, which expressed concerns about one of the country's newest prisons.On Tuesday, concerns about the impact of staff shortages and restricted emergency regimes on prisoner mental health were also brought into sharp focus once again with a report by Hardwick's office, which expressed concerns about one of the country's newest prisons.
The inspection of three-year-old Isis young offenders institution in south-west London highlighted how limited resources had led to a cut in routines, limited access to facilities and a "negative impact on the life of the prison".The inspection of three-year-old Isis young offenders institution in south-west London highlighted how limited resources had led to a cut in routines, limited access to facilities and a "negative impact on the life of the prison".
Juliet Lyon, the director of Prison Reform Trust, said: "There is a mental health crisis in prisons and I think it's fair to say that on the basis of the rise in suicides and rates of self harm.Juliet Lyon, the director of Prison Reform Trust, said: "There is a mental health crisis in prisons and I think it's fair to say that on the basis of the rise in suicides and rates of self harm.
"It's common sense that staff shortages and overcrowding as well as the fact prisoners are being locked up for longer periods of time will have an impact on the mental health of those in cells.""It's common sense that staff shortages and overcrowding as well as the fact prisoners are being locked up for longer periods of time will have an impact on the mental health of those in cells."
The Prison Governors Association president, Eoin McLennan Murray, said that a lack of staff means "we have to lock prisoners up for more time than we would want to" and "many prisons are having to run restricted regimes".The Prison Governors Association president, Eoin McLennan Murray, said that a lack of staff means "we have to lock prisoners up for more time than we would want to" and "many prisons are having to run restricted regimes".
A government spokesperson said: "We're making progress across the criminal justice system in improving mental health treatment, but we are committed to going further.
"We are identifying individual needs and providing offenders with a clear rehabilitation programme.
"Our reforms also ensure that specialist care is included as part of an offender's rehabilitation in the community."