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245 Church Street
London
N9 9HW
Telephone: 020 8803 0255
Membership enquiries: membership@poauk.org.uk
General enquiries:
general@poauk.org.uk
Union says Winchester is a damning example of the crisis in the Prison Service
Commenting on the HMIP report into HMP Winchester, POA General Secretary, Steve Gillan said,
“This report into HMP Winchester is a damning example of the crisis that is playing out in Prisons across the country. Many of the issues raised by the Inspectors have been raised repeatedly by our members who work on the frontline.
Once again, Inspectors have identified the failure of HMPPS leadership to deliver improvements at this Prison. It is the role of prison service leaders to drive improvement clearly, they have failed in their duty to do so and this has major consequences for both staff and prisoners.
The stark declaration that the ‘prison is unsafe’ is of huge concern to the POA; our members at this Prison are being exposed to high levels of serious assaults, a completely unacceptable situation.
The Inspectorate also identified high numbers of assaults on prisoners fuelled by ‘drugs, debt and frustration,’ increasing levels of self-harm, a dilapidated, neglected and filthy prison estate and security weaknesses, including one third of CCTV cameras not working.
I wish that I could say that this report is a one off but sadly it isn’t.
The Secretary of State for Justice must urgently wake up to the crisis in HMPPS Prisons. She must listen to Prison Officers because without immediate action on a number of fronts the situation will only get worse.
As the Inspectorate says, “If the Prison is to provide decent living conditions, improve safety and security and operate effectively, it will require sustained support and Investment.”
This statement could apply to far too many jails across the prison estate.
ENDS
For further information, contact:
POA Press Office 020 8803 0255 Option 7
Cronin House
245 Church Street
London
N9 9HW
Telephone: 020 8803 0255
Membership enquiries: membership@poauk.org.uk
General enquiries:
general@poauk.org.uk
Representing over 30,000 Prison, Correctional and Secure Psychiatric Workers, the POA is the largest UK Union in this sector, able to trace its roots back more than 100 years.