Anne Owers also criticises officers at Leeds Prison who call inmates "cons" and "bodies". The Chief Inspector of Prisons calls for one wing to be closed because it is unfit for human habitation, with prisoners complaining of rats in the building.

A surprise inspection in August found that relationships between officers and prisoners had deteriorated since inspectors visited the jail in 2003.

"We heard too many staff referring to prisoners as 'bodies' or 'cons'," Ms Owers says.

She adds that a recent survey also pointed to a lack of trust between prisoners and staff. "Staff-prisoner relationships appeared to have deteriorated since the last inspection. Staff felt embattled, after a considerable amount of negative publicity, and appeared reluctant to engage with prisoners," according to the inspection report.

Ms Owers criticises the operation of the segregation unit at the prison, which holds 1,239 inmates, 50 per cent more than its certified normal accommodation. She says that the unit is run on "militaristic" lines, with too much use of an unfurnished "special cell" even for minor incidents. One prisoner was held in the cell for verbally abusing an officer and another spent 18 hours there after threatening staff with a shoe.

Ms Owers says that the regime in the unit is overly regimented. Prisoners have to be up and dressed by 7.30am and have to apply to have a shower.

"The over-use of formal control and restraint removals and the special cell contributed to the lack of trust and general perception of intimidation," the report says.

One wing is unfit for habitation, it adds, saying: "B wing was in a poor state of decoration and repair, with cells unsuitable for two prisoners.

"There was not enough ventilation and we were told that cells were too hot in summer and too cold in winter."

Prisoners also complained of rats and insects on the wing.

Ms Owers says that though prisoners have made allegations of intimidation and brutality, there is no confirmed evidence to support the claims.

But she says that use of force is common and that inspectors were not satisfied that force was used as a last resort. Black and ethnic minority prisoners perceive "undercover" racism and discrimination, she says.

The inspection report highlights the consequences of overcrowding on the prison system. Prisoners often return from court to find the jail has filled up with new inmates. To compensate, Leeds regularly moves prisoners to ensure there are cells for offenders coming from court, the report says. Ms Owers says that the jail has developed a resettlement policy and has increased activity for inmates.

Phil Wheatley, the director general of the Prison Service, said: "The chief inspector makes it very clear that the main problems faced by Leeds are exacerbated by the serious difficulties which overcrowding presents to busy local prisons."

BEHIND BARS

# England and Wales have 140 jails -- 10 run privately

# Of 75,030 prisoners on Jan 13, 4,248 were women

# A quarter of prisoners were from ethnic minorities; 12 per cent foreign nationals (2005)

# 132,960 people jailed (2003)

# In 2004, about 95,160 were sentenced offenders, 14 per cent up on 1994. Average age was 27

# Average sentence by magistrates was 2.7 to 3.2 months; Crown Courts, 27 months (2004)


Source for this message:
Miscarriages Of Justice UK / The Times 17/01/06
 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,171-1988686,00.html


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