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| Prison damned as 'vermin-ridden' | Prison damned as 'vermin-ridden' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| London's busiest jail is "overrun with cockroaches" and has an "unusually high" number of assault allegations against staff, a report has said. | London's busiest jail is "overrun with cockroaches" and has an "unusually high" number of assault allegations against staff, a report has said. |
| The Chief Inspector of Prisons, Anne Owers, also accused Pentonville of "institutional disrespect" of inmates. | The Chief Inspector of Prisons, Anne Owers, also accused Pentonville of "institutional disrespect" of inmates. |
| The Prison Service said Pentonville's governor was taking a robust stance in dealing with prisoner complaints. | The Prison Service said Pentonville's governor was taking a robust stance in dealing with prisoner complaints. |
| Another report has concluded Peterhead prison inmates are living in the worst conditions of any in Scotland. | Another report has concluded Peterhead prison inmates are living in the worst conditions of any in Scotland. |
| The jail housing 300 sex offenders was said to be Scotland's only prison where slopping out was still usual practice. | The jail housing 300 sex offenders was said to be Scotland's only prison where slopping out was still usual practice. |
| Drugs claim | Drugs claim |
| Ms Owers report on Pentonville was published following an unannounced inspection in June. | Ms Owers report on Pentonville was published following an unannounced inspection in June. |
| It revealed 43% of prisoners, down from 64% in 2005, said staff treated them with respect. | It revealed 43% of prisoners, down from 64% in 2005, said staff treated them with respect. |
| The Pentonville of this report would be more in place in Hogarth's Gin Lane Juliet LyonPrison Reform Trust Jail 'Scotland's worst' | |
| Allegations of victimisation rose from 29% to 40% over the same period. | Allegations of victimisation rose from 29% to 40% over the same period. |
| Of 12 main recommendations made in a 2005 report, seven had not been achieved and another four had only partially been met. | Of 12 main recommendations made in a 2005 report, seven had not been achieved and another four had only partially been met. |
| This year's inspection also found 55% of prisoners said they felt unsafe and 42% claimed it was easy to obtain drugs. | This year's inspection also found 55% of prisoners said they felt unsafe and 42% claimed it was easy to obtain drugs. |
| Ms Owers' report also said inmates at the prison in Islington, north London, lacked basic requirements such as pillows, while at times there was not enough food. | Ms Owers' report also said inmates at the prison in Islington, north London, lacked basic requirements such as pillows, while at times there was not enough food. |
| She said her findings highlighted the scale of problems in "overcrowded and pressurised" local prisons. | She said her findings highlighted the scale of problems in "overcrowded and pressurised" local prisons. |
| 'Significant pressure' | 'Significant pressure' |
| Pentonville was said to be "overrun with cockroaches and vermin" caused by leftover meals and open flour sacks in the kitchen. | Pentonville was said to be "overrun with cockroaches and vermin" caused by leftover meals and open flour sacks in the kitchen. |
| The Prison Service said Pentonville had been operating under "significant pressure" but had recently strengthened its senior management team. | The Prison Service said Pentonville had been operating under "significant pressure" but had recently strengthened its senior management team. |
| "Pentonville now has a pest control programme in place," a spokeswoman said. | "Pentonville now has a pest control programme in place," a spokeswoman said. |
| Food occasionally runs out due to poor portion control but no prisoner goes without a meal, she added. | Food occasionally runs out due to poor portion control but no prisoner goes without a meal, she added. |
| Juliet Lyon, of the Prison Reform Trust, called on the Home Secretary to consider closing Pentonville as it was "not fit for purpose". | Juliet Lyon, of the Prison Reform Trust, called on the Home Secretary to consider closing Pentonville as it was "not fit for purpose". |
| She added: "The Pentonville of this report would be more in place in Hogarth's Gin Lane than Islington today." | She added: "The Pentonville of this report would be more in place in Hogarth's Gin Lane than Islington today." |
| 'High marks' | 'High marks' |
| The Scottish inspectorate's report on Peterhead noted there had still been no announcement on its future following a 2005 consultation. | The Scottish inspectorate's report on Peterhead noted there had still been no announcement on its future following a 2005 consultation. |
| Dr Andrew McLellan also warned sending Peterhead's sex offender inmates back into the community without preparatory supervision in the community "is not a good recipe for safety". | Dr Andrew McLellan also warned sending Peterhead's sex offender inmates back into the community without preparatory supervision in the community "is not a good recipe for safety". |
| The future of Peterhead Prison remains unclear | The future of Peterhead Prison remains unclear |
| However, he said relationships between staff and prisoners were good. | However, he said relationships between staff and prisoners were good. |
| Positives also included the fact that drug use was very limited and that food and visiting arrangements consistently received high marks from prisoners. | Positives also included the fact that drug use was very limited and that food and visiting arrangements consistently received high marks from prisoners. |
| The report said a large number of complaints were made by a small number of prisoners. | The report said a large number of complaints were made by a small number of prisoners. |
| Members of the Scottish Parliament have been told slopping out could cost nearly £60m in legal claims following a test case which found the practice was a breach of prisoners' human rights. | Members of the Scottish Parliament have been told slopping out could cost nearly £60m in legal claims following a test case which found the practice was a breach of prisoners' human rights. |
| The Scottish prison service say ending slopping out at Peterhead is not a cost-effective option given the age and structure of the Victorian building. | The Scottish prison service say ending slopping out at Peterhead is not a cost-effective option given the age and structure of the Victorian building. |