Responding to the recent IMB Report on HMP Hindley YOI, Nacro comments:
“The latest IMB Report on HMP Hindley YOI reveals alarming deficits in basic safety measures, mental health support, and rehabilitation programmes for the children and adults imprisoned there. The issues highlighted include, rampant drug use, soaring rates of violence and overcrowding which reflect concerning trends we are seeing in prisons across the country. This report is one of many that underscores the human impact of a criminal justice system in crisis.
It is particularly disturbing to see that the rates of drug use at HMP Hindley YOI, were the highest of any prison in the country – with 59% of the prison population testing positive for drug use. The report connects the soaring rates of drug-use to several failings of the prison; with over half of the children and adults locked up in their cell for the majority of the day and overall poor access to purposeful activity being provided. We know that without opportunities to engage in work and education, restricted access to outside time, and exposure to alarming levels of violence and self-harm, many in prison turn to drugs to help manage the stress. The abhorrent conditions described in the HMP Hindley YOI report lead to some in prison to becoming trapped in a vicious cycle; moving between boredom and inactivity, to drug use and self-harm or violence. Such conditions serve ultimately to undermine any prospect of rehabilitation of people in prison in the long-term.
The issues highlighted in this IMB report are not unique to HMP Hindley but reflect a broader picture of the dire state of prisons across the country. We must urgently reform the criminal justice system, following the evidence of what works to move away from an antiquated punitive prison system to one that better rehabilitates people. A rehabilitative approach to criminal justice is in the best interests of us all.”