Exeter Prison ‘dangerously overcrowded’

EXETER Prison could be sacrificing rehabilitation and support with “dangerously overcrowded” cells and reduced staff, according to a business which provides prisoners with phone access.

According to figures released by the Howard League for Penal Reform, Exeter Prison is the fourth most overcrowded prison in the UK – and the number of staff there has been slashed by nearly a third.

Many inmates are sharing cells designed for one person, raising concerns around the safety of prisoners and the number of inmates released early to create space.

In a 2013 inspection, Nick Hardwick, chief inspector of prisons, said there were “weaknesses and gaps” in the running of Exeter Prison and branded the facility “old and difficult to maintain”.

According to Prison Phone, Exeter Prison’s “dangerously overcrowded” facilities are in urgent need of improvement, and there should be more emphasis on rehabilitation.

A Prison Phone spokesman said: “Overcrowding is not a recent problem at HMP Exeter.

“The building, which was constructed in 1853, has not been significantly updated since then and is not designed to house large numbers of inmates.

“In spite of this, the establishment still continues to perform well as a local prison but it provides a clear example of the problems facing prisons across the country.

“June’s Anti-Austerity march in London illustrates just how much government cuts are affecting the country as a whole.

“The justice sector, much like the NHS, has been subject to considerable cuts since 2010, with Ministry of Justice spending being reduced by £1.3bn.

“These cuts have resulted in reduced staff, less funds to spend on rehabilitation and education, and less support for inmates and their families.”

According to figures taken from the Howard League for Penal Reform in 2014, the number of prison officers working in Exeter Prison has dropped by 32% in the space of two years.

Prison Phone’s spokesman added: “Despite the reduction in staff, the numbers of inmates still remain the same.

“Focusing on rehabilitation and lowering rates of reoffending may be a more successful strategy than simply placing increasing numbers of inmates in prisons such as HMP Exeter.”

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