East Sussex prison with 'squalid conditions' worse then ever before

Inspectors returning to the Lewes Prison for an independent review of progress in February were disappointed to find that the site was far from improving.

At the earlier full inspection, in May 2022, inspectors had raised concerns about squalid conditions, rates of violence, staffing levels, care for vulnerable prisoners, healthcare and the time prisoners were spending locked in their cells.

Charlie Taylor, Chief Inspector of Prisons said: “Eight months on from the full inspection, our latest visit found a worrying lack of overall progress at Lewes.

"Time out of cell was among the worst we have seen outside pandemic restrictions, and we were left concerned for prisoners’ well-being. It was notable that the number of calls to the Samaritans was escalating. Without significant further action to stabilise officer numbers, this situation was unlikely to improve.”

Inspectors found that levels of violence continued to be high, and staffing levels remained such a problem that members of the safety team were frequently deployed on wings meaning even serious violent incidents were not always investigated or acted on promptly.

The review found that about half of the men at Lewes Prison still weren’t allocated to education or employment meaning they spent up to 23 hours a day locked in their cells.

Library access was also very poor – about 80% of planned library sessions had been cancelled in the month before the review (January 2023).

The report also stated that rates of self-harm had risen. Calls to the Samaritans had also increased, although prison leaders were unaware of this until inspectors requested the data.

Men in crisis told inspectors they felt uncared for, and significant evidence supported this.

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One prisoner known to be at risk for suicide or self-harm was being held in a cell with broken glass at the windows, presenting an obvious risk of serious harm.

Inspectors found that the prison had made efforts to improve cleanliness, but living accommodation remained poor and many toilets within them were in an unacceptable state. Given how long prisoners were spending locked in their cells, this was particularly concerning.

The Howard League for Penal Reform, the oldest penal reform charity in the world, said the report highlighted how little had changed in prison's since the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rob Preece, communications manager at the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: “This alarming report on Lewes underlines the fact that, for thousands of people in prison, lockdown conditions have continued long after the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"One of the reasons for this is an acute shortage of staff, and for at least half the men in Lewes it means spending 23 hours locked inside their cells with nothing to do. The rising number of self-harm incidents and calls to the Samaritans reflect their growing despair.

"These conditions will never help people to turn their lives around and move on from crime. This is why the government's plan to build more prisons – at a time when there are insufficient staff to run the ones we already have – is so reckless."