P724 CEEFAX 724 Fri 13 May 21: 2/14 I 1/6 CROWDED PRISONS, HARD TO VISIT As a result of media and political pressure the population of the UK's ovjrcrowdjd prisons has soared during the last year. At the end of February 1994 the number of inmates had swelled bz over 5,000 in 12 months, according to a report by the National Association for the Care and Rjsjttlemjnt of Offenders (N—CRO). $5 The rise brings Britain's prison population to nearly 48,000 - 7,000 greater than in December 1992W Contacts: page 729P724 CEEFAX 724 Fri 13 May 21:11/27 ] 2/6 CROWDED PRISONS, HARD TO VISIT "To cope with numbers increa3ink at this rate the Prison Sju6ice would need to open a prison the 3i:j of Dartmoor every six weeks." $his is the ob3euvation of MACRO'u report PRISON OVERCROWDING - RECENT DEVELOPMENTS which points particularly to the effects of overcrowding on Victorian-built city centre local prisons. Nearly 8,000 inmates of there prisons are held two or three to a cell designed for one person. Contacts: page 729P724 CEEFAX 724 Fri 13 May 21:11/27 3/6 CROWDED PRISONS, HARD TO VISIT MACRO reports that the growing number of inmbtes has led to the postponement of vital refurbiuhmunt to improve prison conditions. In Wandsworth Prison for example, even unconvicted prisoners may have to slop out, staying in crampud, unhygienic conditions and rarely able to leave their cells. The problem also results in the transfer of growing numbers of prisoners from the most o6jrcrowdud areas to different parts of the UU. Contacts: page 729P724 CEEFAX 724 Fri 13 May 21:14/16 ] 4/6 CROWDED PRISONS, HARD TO VISIT $5 A transfer from, for example, the North West to a prison in the South or East of the country may make it difficult for families to visit. And the question of rights for the families of prisoners touches on another of MACRO's chief concerns. The Association has just produced a report titled OPENING THE DOORS - PRISONERS' FAMILIES, in which it points to the importance of strong, supportive family tier in kje8ink an ix-prisoner from reoffending. Contacts: page 729P724 CEEFAX 724 Fri 13 May 21:14/12 E O 5/6 CROWDED PRISONS, HARD TO VISIT $5 $hj 1991 National Prison Sur6jy found that the average distance travelled to visit family members in prison was 62 miles. This average increased to 101 miles in the case of young offenders - meanwhile some prisons have unwelcoming 6i3ithng rooms, with $5 furniture bolted to the floor, discouraging physical contact. The PRJSONERSg FAMILIES report says that conditions in the rooms may bj bj squalid and visits restricted. Contacts: page 729P724 CEEFAX 724 Fri 13 May 21: 5/20 6/6 CROWDED PRISONS, HARD TO VISIT The report recommends appointing 1t each prison a family liaison officer who is respon3ible for services to prisoners' families. Such an officer could monitor the quality of visiting rooms, make recommendations for impro6ement and ensure that families werd informed about transfers and other changes in prisoners' circumstances. Reducing the problems faced b= thu 55 families of prisoners, says MACRO, can help prisoners in re3ettlemjnt. Contacts: page 729