Ashfield YOI inmates ‘had bones broken by staff’

Prison Cell Emptyoriginally by: BBC News
published: 4 June 2013

Youth offenders were “exposed to unacceptable levels of violence” at a privately-run institution near Bristol, inspectors found. Problems had worsened at HMYOI Ashfield since a decision to close it and move inmates, whose safety was “compromised”, their report said.

They also revealed two inmates suffered broken bones in separate incidents through excessive force by staff.

Ashfield will become an adult prison housing sex offenders in July. The inspectors found planning for the closure had not been “effectively co-ordinated” between the Serco-run institution in Pucklechurch and the Youth Justice Board (YJB).

Continue reading

This lays bare the problems faced by detained black men

Police Celloriginally by: Voices – Matilda MacAttram
published: 19 February 2013

Jonathan Andel Malia is the latest in a long line of black men to die in custody.

While by no means an exclusively black issue, the cases of Kingsley Burrell-Brown, Sean Rigg, Olaseni Lewis, Fitz Hicks, Mikey Powell, Roger Sylvester and now Jonathan Andel have highlighted the problems faced by detained black men – particularly those held in the mental health system.

Continue reading