Sadiq Khan MP, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, responding to comments in an interview by Nick Hardwick, the Chief Inspector of Prisons, said:
“On the eve of the report from Prisons and Probation Ombudsman into the suicides of 18-24 year olds, these extremely serious comments by the independent Chief Inspector of Prisons demand an immediate response from the Government.
“Chris Grayling can’t keep denying there’s a prisons crisis when respected independent experts link the surge in suicides and violence to the Government’s policies.
“The chaos can be seen by the surge in the number of times the riot squad has been called out, rises in assaults on prison staff, increases in suicides and the rise in the number of prisoners going on the run.
“Rather than prisons punishing and reforming offenders, under this Government they’ve become dangerous warehouses, putting public safety at risk.”