Pentonville Prison is “unfit” for inmates to live or to be rehabilitated, according to a report which found cramped conditions, a lack of privacy and erupting sewage.

The population at the north London prison, one of the oldest in the UK, swelled to nearly 1,150 inmates – far exceeding its intended capacity, independent monitors found.

Prisoners were kept in cells measuring 12ft by 8ft, often in pairs, with bunk beds, a chair, a desk and an open toilet, inches from where they ate and slept.

The report says the “lack of privacy alone could not be described as decent or humane”.

Pentonville’s independent monitoring board (IMB) said there were issues with water, heating and vermin, due to the prison’s Victorian-era infrastructure.

It found a lift serving the vulnerable prisoner unit (VPU) that did not work, which raised safety concerns, particularly for older prisoners, who were forced to navigate narrow metal stairs.

‘Accident waiting to happen’

The report said: “Lack of hot water, heating and low water pressure were reported regularly, due to the antiquated system, which does not allow for cells to be isolated when repairs are being carried out (often after damage caused by prisoners).

“There were at least two occasions when drain blockages caused sewage to erupt through a manhole at lower ground level, causing extremely unpleasant conditions in the care and separation unit and an adjacent newly refurbished wing.

“The lift which services the VPU remained out of action. Some of the older, frail men had to navigate flights of narrow metal stairs to breathe fresh air; wing staff had to carry some of them on a chair, impossible with larger prisoners.

“This was a safety risk for both prisoners and staff, and an accident waiting to happen.”

‘Unfit place for prisoners’

IMB Pentonville chairwoman Alice Gotto said it was “disappointing” the prison’s population has continued to increase despite detailed evidence “of the detrimental effect this would have on prisoners”.

“For the second year running we received more calls from prisoners to the IMB helpline than any other prison in England and Wales,” she added.

“Despite the hard work of staff and management, Pentonville remains an unfit place for prisoners to live or to be rehabilitated.”

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The report also highlighted some success in the prison, including the curbing of contraband and a neurodiversity wing.

Monitors conducted their report between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023.

A Prison Service spokesman said: “HMP Pentonville has taken urgent action to address some of the issues raised in the report.

“This includes major refurbishments to boost capacity and launching new training and education programmes, so prisoners can turn away from crime for good.

“The government is also pressing ahead with the biggest expansion of prison places in over a century – delivering 20,000 additional spaces including six new, modern jails.”

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