Prisons

The Government aims to provide a humane, efficient and effective prison service. The average inmate population in 1987 in England and Wales was nearly 49,000 and, if past trends continue, is projected to rise in the future. The figure for Scotland was 5,588 in 1986. In Northern Ire­land the daily average inmate population reached a peak of almost 3,000 in 1978 but fell to 1,950 in 1987.

Prisons to which offenders may be committed directly by a court are known as 'local prisons'; all are closed. Other prisons, open or closed, re­ceive prisoners on transfer from local prisons. (Open prisons do not have physical barriers to prevent escape.) In England, Scotland and Wales sen­tenced prisoners are classified into groups for security purposes. There are separate prisons for women.

There are no open prisons in Northern Ireland, where the majority of offenders are serving sentences for terrorist offences.

People awaiting trial in local prisons or in remand centres are entitled to privileges not granted to convicted prisoners and, as far as practicable, are separated from convicted prisoners. Those under 21 awaiting trial are, where possible, separated from older prisoners. In 1988 the Government set out proposals in a consultative document under which the pri­vate sector would be brought into the management of new remand pris­oner facilities subject to certain conditions such as security and the hu­mane treatment of inmates: the Government believes that this step could make new remand accommodation available and reduce overcrowding in existing remand centres and local prisons. Feasibility is being examined by a group of management consultants.

Many of the prisons in England and Wales were built in the nine­teenth century, and are now in need of major repairs. Others are housed in converted premises, which are expensive to maintain. In order to re­duce overcrowding and ensure that all prisoners are housed in decent conditions, a major programme of building and refurbishment is now in progress. This includes the construction of 26 new prisons, six of which are already complete and in use. In Northern Ireland there is no over­crowding in the six prison establishments, five of which have been built since 1970; two new prisons — one for women — opened in 1986.