The Howard League

Violent incidents up by 35% in Wakefield prison, with growing concern about safety, drone incursions. and significant delays to transfers to secure hospital for mental health treatment.

Report of the prison's independent monitoring board: https://imb.org.uk/document/wakefield-2024-25-annual-report/

Two professionals seated at a conference table with microphones, discussing documents during a formal meeting.

In a new blogpost, our Director of Campaigns, Andrew Neilson, summarises the evidence he gave at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry yesterday: https://howardleague.org/blog/at-the-uk-covid-19-inquiry-what-happened-to-prisons-at-the-start-of-the-pandemic/

It is a legal requirement that prisons must deliver at least 15 hours of education per week to children of statutory school age.

Feltham, Werrington and Wetherby failed to reach this standard in 2025.

https://howardleague.org/news/new-figures-reveal-continued-failure-of-prisons-holding-children/

YOIs still failing on out-of-cell time and education, analysis finds - CYP Now Boys locked in prisons in England are spending around 20 hours a day in their cells and receiving far less than the legal minimum of education, according to analysis.

"The government has announced that it is embarking on the most significant overhaul of youth justice in a generation but it has failed to commit to closing prisons holding children."

https://www.cypnow.co.uk/content/news/yois-still-failing-on-out-of-cell-time-and-education-analysis-finds

Prisoner heard screaming 'I'm on fire' from cell before death The inquest into Clare Dupree's death at HMP Eastwood Park heard another inmate sounded the alarm.

"Clare was screaming, 'I'm on fire, help help, help,' I think she was by the window trying to get air…. I think she knew she was going to die."

A distressing BBC report from the inquest for Clare Dupree, who died after a fire in Eastwood Park prison: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly14x00x9xo

Two professionals seated at a conference table with microphones, discussing documents during a formal meeting.

In a new blogpost, our Director of Campaigns, Andrew Neilson, summarises the evidence he gave at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry yesterday: https://howardleague.org/blog/at-the-uk-covid-19-inquiry-what-happened-to-prisons-at-the-start-of-the-pandemic/

Prisons are failing children in custody, says charity Children are spending less than six hours per day out of their cells, figures show.

"Figures from the MoJ...showed children at Werrington were out of their cells for an average of five hours and one minute on weekdays in November.

"The figure was less than three hours per day at weekends for most of the year..."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqxdy90vlv2o

It is a legal requirement that prisons must deliver at least 15 hours of education per week to children of statutory school age.

Feltham, Werrington and Wetherby failed to reach this standard in 2025.

https://howardleague.org/news/new-figures-reveal-continued-failure-of-prisons-holding-children/

Quote emphasizing the need to remove children from failing prisons and provide care for healthy, crime-free lives, by Andrea Coomber KC (Hon.).

We have obtained new figures, which reveal that children in prison in England are typically being kept in their cells for about 20 hours a day and getting much less than 15 hours of education per week.

https://howardleague.org/news/new-figures-reveal-continued-failure-of-prisons-holding-children/

Violent incidents up by 35% in Wakefield prison, with growing concern about safety, drone incursions. and significant delays to transfers to secure hospital for mental health treatment.

Report of the prison's independent monitoring board: https://imb.org.uk/document/wakefield-2024-25-annual-report/

Two professionals seated at a conference table with microphones, discussing documents during a formal meeting.

In a new blogpost, our Director of Campaigns, Andrew Neilson, summarises the evidence he gave at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry yesterday: https://howardleague.org/blog/at-the-uk-covid-19-inquiry-what-happened-to-prisons-at-the-start-of-the-pandemic/

Two professionals seated at a conference table with microphones, discussing documents during a formal meeting.

In a new blogpost, our Director of Campaigns, Andrew Neilson, summarises the evidence he gave at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry yesterday: https://howardleague.org/blog/at-the-uk-covid-19-inquiry-what-happened-to-prisons-at-the-start-of-the-pandemic/

"The Howard League for Penal Reform says the prison estate at the moment is becoming ever more dangerous and violent..."

Jane Deith updates Channel 4 News viewers on a serious incident in Wakefield prison: https://www.channel4.com/news/soham-murderer-ian-huntley-seriously-injured-in-prison-attack

Violent incidents up by 35% in Wakefield prison, with growing concern about safety, drone incursions. and significant delays to transfers to secure hospital for mental health treatment.

Report of the prison's independent monitoring board: https://imb.org.uk/document/wakefield-2024-25-annual-report/

Rape suspect freed from HMP Wormwood Scrubs in error now abroad The man was awaiting trial when he was released from HMP Wormwood Scrubs and has now left the UK.

"After a pre-trial hearing in early February, a court official wrongly told the prison the defendant could be set free on bail and he was later released, leaving the country soon afterwards."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgk2rj2yeyjo

‘Shambles’ as tankers carry sewage from new £400 million jail in Yorkshire Tankers are set to continue carrying sewage away from a new jail in East Yorkshire until May, Yorkshire Water says.

An extreme example of the impact that new prisons have on the communities around them: https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/shambles-as-tankers-carry-sewage-from-new-ps400-million-jail-in-yorkshire-5603047

Unsafe levels of cancer-causing radon gas detected at 16 UK prisons Exclusive: High levels of radon gas, which can increase the risk of lung cancer, were detected at HMP Exeter and HMP Lindholme five years ago

"...Bedford, Channings Wood, Downview, East Sutton Park, Exeter, Hollesley Bay, Leicester, Lincoln, Lindholme, Parc, Portland, Stafford, The Verne, Usk and Wealstun have all measured unsafe levels..."

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/radon-gas-prison-dartmoor-hmp-exeter-b2924224.html

Our Director of Campaigns, Andrew Neilson, gave evidence to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry this morning, alongside Pia Sinha, Chief Executive of the Prison Reform Trust.

You can skip back to watch the session here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_qDL_xlbe0

Secret prison documents show government plan to tackle IPP scandal will fail Exclusive: Damning projections reveal the government’s action plan to progress IPP prisoners is a ‘failure’ which will leave at least 500 prisoners languishing without release 18 years after the sentence was abolished

“These figures demonstrate the failure of the government’s ‘action plan’ and the consequences of the government’s refusal to do justice to those who were given an IPP."

More on the IPP scandal: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/ipp-sentence-prison-projections-lord-thomas-b2917606.html

Rape suspect freed from HMP Wormwood Scrubs in error now abroad The man was awaiting trial when he was released from HMP Wormwood Scrubs and has now left the UK.

"After a pre-trial hearing in early February, a court official wrongly told the prison the defendant could be set free on bail and he was later released, leaving the country soon afterwards."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgk2rj2yeyjo

Unsafe levels of cancer-causing radon gas detected at 16 UK prisons Exclusive: High levels of radon gas, which can increase the risk of lung cancer, were detected at HMP Exeter and HMP Lindholme five years ago

"Unsafe levels of cancer-causing radon gas have been detected in 16 prisons, with 33 sites under investigation by the Ministry of Justice."

Holly Bancroft at the Independent has the story: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/radon-gas-prison-dartmoor-hmp-exeter-b2924224.html

HMP Eastwood Park inmate died after vape caused cell fire An inquest has opened into the death of Clare Dupree, who died on 28 December 2022.

Clare Dupree died in 2022. It has taken more than three years for the details of this tragic incident to be heard by an inquest jury.

We have been concerned about fire safety in prisons for a long time. We will have more to say after the inquest.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgj7y02nddo

Record number of female prison officers fired over relationships with lags A RECORD number of female prison officers were sacked last year for having affairs with male inmates. A total of 18 were given the boot in 2024-25 — bringing the number in the past five years to 58…

When we established the Commission on Sex in Prison, we found that there had been minimal research – and a worrying lack of coherent and consistently applied policies – in relation to sex behind bars.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/38298766/female-prison-officers-fired-relationships-lags/

‘Shambles’ as tankers carry sewage from new £400 million jail in Yorkshire Tankers are set to continue carrying sewage away from a new jail in East Yorkshire until May, Yorkshire Water says.

An extreme example of the impact that new prisons have on the communities around them: https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/shambles-as-tankers-carry-sewage-from-new-ps400-million-jail-in-yorkshire-5603047

Secret prison documents show government plan to tackle IPP scandal will fail Exclusive: Damning projections reveal the government’s action plan to progress IPP prisoners is a ‘failure’ which will leave at least 500 prisoners languishing without release 18 years after the sentence was abolished

“These figures demonstrate the failure of the government’s ‘action plan’ and the consequences of the government’s refusal to do justice to those who were given an IPP."

More on the IPP scandal: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/ipp-sentence-prison-projections-lord-thomas-b2917606.html

EXCLUSIVE: ‘Scandi’ units open at Wandsworth and Pentonville prisons Inside Time exclusive Units offering a Scandinavian-style regime with additional staff, extra keywork sessions and communal dining are being launched at two struggling prisons in London. The Vangua…

“We have heard really good reports from what’s going on in them."

HM Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor spoke to Inside Time about Vanguard units in Wandsworth and Pentonville: https://insidetime.org/newsround/exclusive-scandi-units-open-at-wandsworth-and-pentonville-prisons/

Line graph showing an increase in prison deaths in England and Wales from 1978 to 2025, peaking near 400 deaths.

The number of people dying in prisons in England and Wales has risen to the highest level on record, official data reveal.

Prisons recorded 394 deaths in 2025 – a 15% increase on the previous year.

https://howardleague.org/news/revealed-the-rising-death-toll-in-prisons-in-england-and-wales/

Secret prison documents show government plan to tackle IPP scandal will fail Exclusive: Damning projections reveal the government’s action plan to progress IPP prisoners is a ‘failure’ which will leave at least 500 prisoners languishing without release 18 years after the sentence was abolished

“These figures demonstrate the failure of the government’s ‘action plan’ and the consequences of the government’s refusal to do justice to those who were given an IPP."

More on the IPP scandal: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/ipp-sentence-prison-projections-lord-thomas-b2917606.html

‘Shambles’ as tankers carry sewage from new £400 million jail in Yorkshire Tankers are set to continue carrying sewage away from a new jail in East Yorkshire until May, Yorkshire Water says.

An extreme example of the impact that new prisons have on the communities around them: https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/shambles-as-tankers-carry-sewage-from-new-ps400-million-jail-in-yorkshire-5603047

EXCLUSIVE: ‘Scandi’ units open at Wandsworth and Pentonville prisons Inside Time exclusive Units offering a Scandinavian-style regime with additional staff, extra keywork sessions and communal dining are being launched at two struggling prisons in London. The Vangua…

“We have heard really good reports from what’s going on in them."

HM Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor spoke to Inside Time about Vanguard units in Wandsworth and Pentonville: https://insidetime.org/newsround/exclusive-scandi-units-open-at-wandsworth-and-pentonville-prisons/