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Strangeways riot anniversary: Lord Woolf calls for jail inquiry | Strangeways riot anniversary: Lord Woolf calls for jail inquiry |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The former Lord Chief Justice who led the inquiry into Britain's biggest ever prison riot is calling for a new inquiry into the state of UK jails. | The former Lord Chief Justice who led the inquiry into Britain's biggest ever prison riot is calling for a new inquiry into the state of UK jails. |
The Rt Hon Lord Woolf says conditions in prisons are now as bad as they were in 1990, when a dramatic siege at Strangeways went on for 25 days. | The Rt Hon Lord Woolf says conditions in prisons are now as bad as they were in 1990, when a dramatic siege at Strangeways went on for 25 days. |
Two people died and hundreds were injured in a protest against a prison regime that included "slopping out". | Two people died and hundreds were injured in a protest against a prison regime that included "slopping out". |
Lord Woolf said Britain was again "heading for a crisis within prisons". | Lord Woolf said Britain was again "heading for a crisis within prisons". |
The unrest at Strangeways started on 1 April 1990 and the ensuing siege was the longest in British penal history. | The unrest at Strangeways started on 1 April 1990 and the ensuing siege was the longest in British penal history. |
Prisoners complained the Victorian site was overcrowded, they were forced to remain in their cells for up to 23 hours a day and had to "slop out" - using only a bucket for a toilet. | Prisoners complained the Victorian site was overcrowded, they were forced to remain in their cells for up to 23 hours a day and had to "slop out" - using only a bucket for a toilet. |
Lord Woolf, now chair of the Prison Reform Trust, said: "There are things that are better now than then, but I fear we've allowed ourselves to go backwards and we're back where we were at the time of Strangeways. | Lord Woolf, now chair of the Prison Reform Trust, said: "There are things that are better now than then, but I fear we've allowed ourselves to go backwards and we're back where we were at the time of Strangeways. |
"For a time after the riot things were much better and numbers were going down, [but] unfortunately prisoners are again being kept in conditions that we should not tolerate, they're a long way from home and their families can't keep in touch with them. | "For a time after the riot things were much better and numbers were going down, [but] unfortunately prisoners are again being kept in conditions that we should not tolerate, they're a long way from home and their families can't keep in touch with them. |
"That's why I would welcome a thorough re-look at the situation and above all trying to take prisons out of politics". | "That's why I would welcome a thorough re-look at the situation and above all trying to take prisons out of politics". |
Following the disturbance, Lord Woolf published a report in 1992 making more than 200 recommendations. | Following the disturbance, Lord Woolf published a report in 1992 making more than 200 recommendations. |
They included an end to "slopping out", increased contact between prisoners and their families, and better rehabilitation of offenders. | They included an end to "slopping out", increased contact between prisoners and their families, and better rehabilitation of offenders. |
Strangeways was later rebuilt at a cost of £90m and renamed HMP Manchester. | Strangeways was later rebuilt at a cost of £90m and renamed HMP Manchester. |
Inside Out is broadcast on BBC One North West on Monday, 23 March at 19:30 GMT and nationwide on the iPlayer for 30 days thereafter. | Inside Out is broadcast on BBC One North West on Monday, 23 March at 19:30 GMT and nationwide on the iPlayer for 30 days thereafter. |