Legal News
Increase in Prison Gangs Following Civil Unrest (16 September 2011)
Date: 16/09/2011
Rioters and looters jailed during the civil unrest are forming new criminal gangs. Nick Hardwick, the chief inspector of prisons, said that the increase in gang activity was a result of young people fearing for their own safety. Mr Hardwick claims that tensions between prisoners is high as too many offenders sentenced over the riots will be required to sit out their prison terms in the absence of anything constructive to do and little input to prevent them from reoffending. Prison governors were warned to take action to ensure that inmates jailed over their part in the civil unrest remain safe after a “nasty” assault between rival gangs resulted in two prisoners being admitted to hospital.
Over 1,700 people have been summoned to court over the civil unrest, with one in five between the ages of ten and 17. Nine out of ten of those arrested over the riots were male, according to Ministry of Justice figures. Mr Hardwick admits that the number of young people given prison sentences meant that it had been challenging to keep the young safe. The Prison Service has circulated an email to governors reminding them to warn new inmates of the dangers of providing other inmates with information as to their residence or former gang membership. A survey involving 671 prisoners under the age of 21 revealed that six per cent felt victimised due to gang-related issues, compared with three per cent of the 5,719 respondents of all ages.
The prison law solicitors at Duncan Lewis safeguard the rights of prisoners. The team can advise both short-term and long-term prisoners of their rights and privileges.