September 6th 2024.
A guard stands behind a locked gate, looking out at the crowded halls of HMP Pentonville. The prison, located in north London, has reached a record high in population, with just nine places left out of 1,205. Originally meant to hold 520 inmates in single cells, most now have to share cramped quarters with another prisoner.
The surge in prisoners is largely due to gang crime, as described by inmate Mark Blower. He spoke to The Sun, expressing his concern about the growing tension and mix of different gang members from different areas. This has caused a palpable sense of unease among the inmates, and Blower stated that sometimes the tension can be felt in the air.
New figures released by the Ministry of Justice show that as of September 6, there were 88,521 people in prison - a sharp rise from the previous record of 88,350 a week ago and a jump of 1,025 from four weeks ago. This increase is likely due to the recent disorder across the country, leading to more people being remanded in custody or given jail sentences.
Former chief inspector of prisons, Nick Hardwick, has expressed concern for his personal safety in prisons for the first time. He stated that some of the prisons he has visited recently are dangerous and frightening places, with staff struggling to maintain control. This is a sentiment shared by Shay Dhury, a prison officer at Pentonville, who recently had both wrists broken while trying to break up a fight between inmates from rival gangs.
The government is considering various options to ease prison overcrowding, including renting cells in Estonian prisons. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to meet with her Estonian counterpart next week to discuss this possibility. Home Office minister Dame Angela Eagle has stated that the government must address the problem of overcrowding and ensure that those convicted of violent or serious crimes are not left without a place in jail.
In July, Mahmood announced plans to reduce the proportion of sentences inmates must serve behind bars from 50% to 40%. This temporary measure, which will not apply to certain offenses, will go into effect on September 10. It is clear that the government is taking steps to address the issue of overcrowding in prisons, but the situation at HMP Pentonville and other prisons across the country remains a cause for concern.
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