Britain’s prison service is caught in a doom loop
Overcrowding leads to violence. Violence worsens a staffing crisis. A staffing crisis impedes rehabilitation
When andy laidlaw began working as a prison officer in 1998 it was “an enjoyable job”. There were “low lows” as well as “high highs”, but it was mostly safe and you “could feel like you were making a difference”. Mr Laidlaw, a straight-talking Scouser, climbed the ranks, eventually becoming a deputy governor. He describes the work—which demanded the skills to handle the most troubled people and the dexterity to “get assaulted safely”—with pride. The best officers were a “mixture of Kofi Annan and an MMA champion”.
Explore more
This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “It’s worse than you think ”
Britain October 26th 2024
- Britain’s prison service is caught in a doom loop
- How to hold armed police to account in Britain
- Why “The Rest Is Politics”, a British podcast, is a hit
- Britain is a world leader in pet health care
- Scotland’s failure to build homes is mainly due to its government
- The shortfall in British adoptions
- King’s Cross, a miracle in London
From the October 26th 2024 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionMore from Britain
Has the Royal Navy become too timid?
A new paper examines how its culture has changed
A plan to reorganise local government in England runs into opposition
Turkeys vote against Christmas
David Lammy’s plan to shake up Britain’s Foreign Office
Diplomats will be tasked with growing the economy and cutting migration
Britain’s government has spooked markets and riled businesses
Tax rises were inevitable. Such a shaky start was not
Labour’s credibility trap
Who can believe Rachel Reeves?