Minister praises staff after prison riot

Prisons minister Crispin Blunt today praised staff for their handling of riots at an open prison. Mr Blunt was given a tour of Ford prison near Arundel, West Sussex, following yesterday's rampage by about 40 inmates. The prisoners turned violent in the early hours after officers attempted to breathalyse them for contraband alcohol. The riot...- 02/01/2011, Crime

DVDs: Great views from a year on the couch

From Baker Street and prison to infinity and beyond, 2010 was a strong year for DVDs. Ben Walsh selects 10 of the finest. Click on the picture to the right to launch the guide - 17/12/2010, Features

Chile prison fire kills at least 81

A fire broke out at a prison in the Chilean capital early today, killing 81 inmates and injuring many more, including a firefighter, prison officials said, in the worst-ever accident in the country's jail system. "We are trying to identify the 81 dead inmates now," said a spokesman for the state prison system. It was not immediately cle...- 08/12/2010, Americas

Pagan prisoners allowed to celebrate religious festivals

Pagan prisoners will be allowed to celebrate four festivals next year which involve lactating sheep and promiscuity.- 08/12/2010, Crime

Dead body found buried in Peru prison cell

The body of a young woman who visited an inmate in a Peruvian prison has been found buried in his cell. - 02/12/2010, Americas

Prisons: 'Execution yard' is lost in translation

A prison exercise area was described as an "execution yard" in a handbook for Russian inmates, inspectors said yesterday.- 18/11/2010, Crime

Prison death rate criticised

Many convicts are dying in jail from preventable heart attacks, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman warns today. Its report says staff must respond better to emergencies to stop prisoners dying from coronaries. The average age of prisoners dying from heart conditions between 2007 and 2009 was 53, with one in three younger than 45 years old.- 15/11/2010, Home News

Young prisoners beaten in 'sheeting' attacks

Young prisoners are being tied up in bed linen and beaten by other inmates, a report said today. The practice, known as "sheeting", is seen as horseplay by some staff at Forest Bank prison, in Salford, Greater Manchester, but the Chief Inspector of Prisons, Nick Hardwick, condemned it as "serious bullying" which needs to be ...- 09/11/2010, Crime

Foreign prisoners face transfer under new plans

Thousands of foreign prisoners will be sent back to serve their sentences in their own countries under Government plans, it emerged today. With more than 11,000 foreign inmates in a prison population of about 85,000, as many as possible should be transferred to serve their sentences in their own country, the Ministry of Justice said. The move is...- 08/11/2010, Crime

Second night of rioting at young offenders unit

More than 50 inmates at a young offenders unit were involved in a second night of rioting last night, the Prison Service said today. Around 55 prisoners at Moorlands Young Offenders Institute near Doncaster, South Yorkshire, refused to return to their cells at 6.30pm. They surrendered more than eight hours later after officers in riot gear were...- 04/11/2010, Crime

'Degrading' sanitation system forces prisoners to slop out cells

Prisoners are being forced to slop out in their cells because of a "degrading system" of sanitation, say inspectors.- 27/10/2010, Home News

Billy Wright report: the key findings

The Wright Inquiry report stretched to 700 pages. Key findings included: * There was no collusion in the death of Billy Wright; * Security files on prisoners were destroyed on two occasions; * The failure of the Prison Service to classify killers Christopher McWilliams and John Kenneway as top-risk prisoners after they held a prison officer ho...- 14/09/2010, Crime

Probe into prisoner's hanging death

An investigation was launched after a prisoner was found hanging in his cell, the Prison Service said today. David Boylan, 47, who was on remand accused of causing grievous bodily harm, was found hanging from a ligature in his cell at HMP Hewell in Redditch, Worcestershire, shortly before 7am yesterday. A Prison Service spokesman said: "...- 13/09/2010, Crime

Suffocated prisoner dies in hospital

A prisoner died in hospital two days after being found suffocated, the Prison Service said today. James Duggan, who was jailed in August last year for wounding with intent, was found asphyxiated at Pentonville prison in north London at 9.30am on Wednesday last week. Staff and paramedics tried to resuscitate the 27-year-old inmate, who was ta...- 09/08/2010, Crime

Prisoner arrested over death of fellow inmate

A prisoner serving a life sentence for murder has been arrested on suspicion of killing a fellow inmate at a jail in Buckinghamshire.- 04/08/2010, Crime