Jenny Chapman MP, Labour’s Shadow Justice Minister, responding to the publication of the Chief Inspector of Prisons’ Annual Report, said:

“The Chief Inspector of Prisons’ report is damning.

“Violent, overcrowded prisons will never be able to rehabilitate prisoners or protect the public from reoffending. Closing high performing prisons, mismanaging staffing and failing to rehabilitate prisoners serving their first jail sentence has led to a prison system close to crisis. 

“Serious violent attacks on prison staff rose by a third last year alone and many Prison Officers are working day-in, day-out in fear.

“This cannot continue. Ministers must wake up and urgently get a grip on the state of our prisons.”