Bishop Moth welcomes call for enquiry into prison conditions

Bishop Moth

Bishop Richard Moth has welcome a call by the Prison Governors Association for the government to set up an independent public inquiry into the state of prisons in England and Wales, after what it describes as an "unprecedented" rise in violence and suicides in prisons. The association's members voted unanimously for a public inquiry at the body's annual conference in Derby.

The association, which represents 1,021 governors across the UK, said that in the 12 months to June there were 105 self-inflicted deaths - almost double the number five years ago. Serious assaults on staff have increased by 146% in the same period and self-harm incidents increased by more than 10,000, it added.

Responding to the announcement, Bishop Moth, who is Catholic Liaison Bishop for Prisons, said: "I am struck by the call by the Prison Governors Association, the people who actually manage our prison service, for an independent public inquiry into the state of prisons. For prison governors to unanimously make such a call underlines the current serious nature of the state of the prison service.

"In the last year there have been 105 self-inflicted deaths in our prisons, a terrible loss of human life and human potential. At the same time, non-fatal self-harm incidents and serious attacks on staff have both increased at an alarming pace. I know from our own prison chaplains the nature of the problems caused by staff shortages across the prison estate. But I also want to be clear that my aim in speaking out is not to attempt to apportion blame, but rather to urge us all to work together to improve the situation.

"Last week I welcomed the announcement by the new Justice Secretary, Liz Truss, of an extra £14 million to recruit over 400 extra prison staff. It is a welcome move in the right direction, but more needs to be done in terms of both resource and reform. Our society deserves a prison system which is safe, secure and humane."

Source: CCN.PGA