Yasmin Qureshi MP, Labour’s Shadow Justice Minister, responding to the recent events at HMP Bedford and HMP Pentonville prisons, said:

“The past 24-hours have provided yet more evidence of the crisis in our prison estate which has developed under this Tory Government.

“We have seen a serious riot at one prison and two prisoners have escaped from another, but we haven’t heard a thing from the Justice Secretary.

“Labour has repeatedly warned about the dangers of understaffing and overcrowding in prisons.

“The Government must act immediately to make sure our prisons are safe and secure.