ANNUAL REPORT OF HM INSPECTORATE OF PRISONS

Early day motion 451, tabled 20 January 2004 by Annette Brooke (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 51 members.

That this House welcomes the report of the Chief Inspector of Prisons, Anne Owers; notes that the report highlights the fact that the good work of the Prison Service is being undermined by ever increasing prison population pressures; is appalled that during 2003, on average 82 out of the 136 prisons in England and Wales were overcrowded; acknowledges that any prison overcrowding is exacerbated by staff shortages; recognises that overcrowding and staff shortages result in prisoners spending increasing proportions of the day locked in their cells; understands that prisoners are being moved around the country in order to free up spaces in local prisons, causing more prisoners to be held further away from home, making it extremely difficult to maintain family contact, a factor recognised as preventing re-offending; is shocked that almost two people a week kill themselves in our prisons and one in four women in prison self-harms; and calls for an urgent review of how those with mental illnesses are treated.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 23, Labour 21, Conservative 2, Plaid Cymru 2, DUP 1, Labour/Co-operative 1, UUP 1.