PRT comment: HMIP report on HMP Manchester

Commenting on today’s HM Inspectorate of Prisons report on conditions at HMP Manchester, Pia Sinha, chief executive of the Prison Reform Trust, said:

“Urgent notifications appear to have become the new way for HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) to prioritise resources within their crumbling estate. Despite the best efforts of governors and their teams, this crisis driven approach seems to be failing to address the urgent challenges facing our most complex prisons. The senior leadership within HMPPS need to come up with a robust and long-term strategy so that prisons such as HMP Manchester can start to fulfil their primary purpose—providing a safe, ordered and purposeful regime for some of the most challenging people in our prisons. A clear and actionable plan is urgently needed to rebuild trust and hope amongst all those who live, work and visit HMP Manchester.”