Articles & News

August 15, 2008

UK prison criticised for overcrowding

By Simon Barrett, The Argus, Brighton, UK

Overcrowding is a major issue at a prison where three inmates died last year, a new report has revealed.

Two of the deaths were suspected suicides which are awaiting inquests, while the third, Gareth Russell, was murdered by his cellmate.

The issue was highlighted in an annual report by the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB).

Overall the inspectors were positive about how the prison is managed, but identify overcrowding as the major issue facing the jail.

The prison has an official capacity of 458 but the average population for the year was 520.

The IMB report reads: “It is a humanely managed prison with some excellent features and provides a safe and largely decent environment.

“Population pressures within the prison system as a whole are impacting upon the ability of Lewes prison to deliver its decency, learning and skills, healthcare and resettlement agendas and are putting staff under undesirable pressure.”

The report also says the prison’s F Wing is “barely fit for habitation”.

One of the deaths mentioned in the report was that of Gareth Russell, who was strangled in his cell by fellow inmate Simon Wishart.

Wishart was jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 18 years behind bars for the killing.

Eoin McLennan-Murray, the governor of Lewes prison, said the report was fair but added that F Wing was now scheduled to be refurbished.