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”.
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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
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