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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.
Poor conditions
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.