The prison was found to have become safer and more respectful since the previous inspection, but rehabilitation and resettlement work was now assessed as poor, the lowest assessment.
HMP & YOI Chelmsford was found by inspectors to be a violent and unsafe prison, with large volumes of drugs smuggled in by the many organised crime gang members in the Essex jail.
HMP Exeter, holding more than 400 men from across the south west of England, was found by inspectors to be “very violent”, with widespread illicit drug use and poor living conditions apparently regarded by staff as normal.
Responding to the inspectiob report on HMP& YOI Styal, INQUEST has called on the government to reduce the number of women in prison and redirect resources to welfare, health, housing and social care.