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Pentonville Prison |
‘Drugs are everywhere’
“HIS wing was rife with drugs. And an addict can’t be around drugs.” The testimony of Maureen Lawrence at the inquest into the death of her son Warren, a prisoner at Pentonville, met with no objection from representatives of the prison in court last week.
And it rings true with prisoners, ex-inmates and police who have spoken to the New Journal about conditions at the Caledonian Road prison.
“Drugs are everywhere, in every wing,” said one prisoner. “This prison is right next to the street. You see them coming over the wall – drugs in tennis balls, packets. I’ve seen dead pigeons coming over the wall, full of drugs.”
In 2006, following a damning report by Chief Inspector of Prisons Anne Owers, the head of the Prison Reform Trust called Pentonville “a filthy, vermin-infested jail, where even a prisoner’s basic requirements of a pillow, toothbrush or cooked meal cannot be guaranteed. Many felt unsafe and use of force by staff was high. Inactivity, victimisation and illegal drugs are rife.”
Police who have handled court cases where defendants are held at Pentonville are also concerned.
“There has been a breakdown there. It is as if the prisoners are running it,” said one detective earlier this year, asking not to be named. “Anyone on remand can be got at by anyone else. It affects witness statements, guilty pleas.”
The prison has not been inspected since 2006, but new governor Nick Leader has pledged to introduce a reforming regime and generated headlines with his broadening of cultural activities for inmates, including pop concerts by groups such as The Enemy.
The New Journal contacted the Ministry of Justice to request an interview with Mr Leader last week but received no response. In September last year, however, he said: “I recognise the scale of the task to be done to improve areas of regime delivery and management organisation so we provide a decent living and work environment at Pentonville.
“I am confident recent improvements are sustainable and will continue to be built upon. Our change process actively encourages ideas from prisoners, staff, managers, union representatives and external stakeholders.
“We understand the need to focus on the support, front-end service in reception, first night and induction for prisoners.
“We also then need to develop a needs-driven service to address the requirements of those prisoners within our care.” |
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