UK Prisons in Crisis: Inmates Dig Through Crumbling Walls with Plastic Cutlery

Independent Monitoring Boards report highlights severe deterioration and security risks across Victorian and modern prison facilities.

Prisoners at Winchester and other Victorian-era prisons have used plastic cutlery to tunnel through walls due to decaying infrastructure.
The report describes conditions in some prisons as 'inhumane,' with issues like leaks, flooding, and vermin infestations.
Overcrowding and high inmate turnover exacerbate maintenance challenges, impacting security and living standards.
Even newly built facilities like Five Wells face significant design flaws impacting inmate safety and comfort.
The Ministry of Justice plans to add 20,000 modern prison places and invest in security and rehabilitation measures.