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Prison inspector warns of 'widening cracks' in system | Prison inspector warns of 'widening cracks' in system |
(35 minutes later) | |
There has been a "rapid deterioration" in prison safety in England and Wales, the prisons inspector has warned. | |
Nick Hardwick said staff shortages, population pressures and prison policy all contributed to problems, with a 69% rise in self-inflicted deaths. | |
The Ministry of Justice said there was no evidence linking the rise in suicides to government policy. | |
Presenting his annual report, Mr Hardwick also pointed to problems involving so-called legal highs. | Presenting his annual report, Mr Hardwick also pointed to problems involving so-called legal highs. |
He highlighted the growing availability of the drugs as a cause of debt, bullying and health problems, warning their use had grown sharply. | He highlighted the growing availability of the drugs as a cause of debt, bullying and health problems, warning their use had grown sharply. |
Reduced staffing | Reduced staffing |
According to the HM Inspectorate of Prisons annual report, cannabis substitutes Spice and Black Mamba were particular "causes for concern" in more than a third of the jails inspected. | According to the HM Inspectorate of Prisons annual report, cannabis substitutes Spice and Black Mamba were particular "causes for concern" in more than a third of the jails inspected. |
It says current mandatory random drug testing does not detect legal highs and reduced staffing had made some "suspicion" testing programmes "virtually inoperable". | It says current mandatory random drug testing does not detect legal highs and reduced staffing had made some "suspicion" testing programmes "virtually inoperable". |
Mr Hardwick said profits for prisoners selling legal highs outstripped other drugs because they sold for 10 times as much as they would outside jail. | Mr Hardwick said profits for prisoners selling legal highs outstripped other drugs because they sold for 10 times as much as they would outside jail. |
But warning cracks in the system had "widened", Mr Hardwick's report said: "Of most concern, the number of self-inflicted deaths rose by 69% from 52 in 2012-13 to 88 in 2013-14, the highest figure in 10 years." | |
Bullying was a factor in "many cases", the report said, warning that adult male prisons were becoming "more violence every year". | |
Andrew Selous, the Conservative prisons minister, said it had been a "challenging year" for prisons staff dealing with "major organisational change". | |
But he added: "During this time we have always had enough staff to deliver decent and safe prison regimes, and this will continue to be our top priority. | |
"We remain committed to reducing violence and understanding the reasons for the recent rise in self-inflicted deaths. | |
"But this is a complex issue and the chief inspector has failed to provide any evidence to support his assertion that this is linked to the reforms made under this government." |