Buckley Hall prison named as one of England and Wales' overcrowded prisons

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HMP Buckley Hall, from above

Buckley Hall prison has been named as one of the overcrowded prisons in England and Wales.

Figures seen by the Howard League for Penal Reform reveal that 79 inmates at the Rochdale prison were held in crowded accommodation in the 12 months ending March 2019.

Local prisons – which tend to hold inmates on short sentences, awaiting sentence, on remand awaiting trial or awaiting transfer to another prison category – are under the most pressure from overcrowding.

At the end of June, 449 people were reported as being held at Buckley Hall.

The worst-affected prison is Wandsworth, in south London, where on a typical day more than 1,100 prisoners are held in cells that are overcrowded.

The Howard League for Penal Reform found that, in total, 18,861 prisoners are kept in 80 prisons across England and Wales.

Addressing this, Frances Crook, Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: “Keeping thousands of men cooped up like battery hens in overcrowded cells is never going to help them to lead crime-free lives on release.

“This is an intolerable situation and, while the numbers have come down slightly in recent years, they remain frighteningly high. The figures reveal a clear relationship with overcrowding and violence in prisons.

“This is a challenge for the new Secretary of State for Justice, who now has a chance to build a positive legacy. Bold action to reduce the number of people behind bars would not only ease pressure on the prisons; it would save lives, protect staff and prevent crime.”

HMP Buckley Hall stands on the site of a historic house, which was demolished after World War Two. It opened in 1995 and was the UK’s fourth private prison, under the operation of Group 4 Prison Services. 

Buckley Hall Governor, Rob Knight has been approached for comment.