We are grateful to Dr John Moore, who has written a two-part blog series on the history of the prison population in England and Wales. Here's Part One: https://howardleague.org/blog/choosing-how-many-to-imprison-some-lessons-from-the-20th-century-history-of-english-prisons-part-1-of-2/

In 2024, 65% of pain inducing techniques used against children and young people in YOIs and training centres, were “outside of policy”, or what we would call unlawful. Catch up on our Spotlights webinar on use of force: https://howardleague.org/spotlights/

"Chief inspector of prisons demands ministers to get a ‘grip’ on the crisis as tactics for smuggling lethal substances into jails have escalated to drones that can deliver up to 11kg of drugs at a time." https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/prison-drugs-crisis-deaths-soar-b2968322.html

"Charity The Howard League for Penal Reform says the reforms barely acknowledge children in custody despite this group being disproportionately more likely to have SEND (40%, compared with around 20% of children more widely)." https://ow.ly/tp5w50Z4CQh

"One in ten prisoners who attend A&E leave before they are seen or treated by hospital staff – double the proportion for people outside prison." Important analysis by the Nuffield Trust: https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/prisoners-twice-as-likely-to-leave-ae-without-being-treated

An independent review of progress at Bullingdon prison finds high drug use, and more than half of the men locked in their cells during the day without the help they need. More here: https://hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmipris_reports/hmp-bullingdon-3/

Inside Winchester prison, where ageing infrastructure, staff shortages, overcrowding, drugs and violence are all problems. Read more in HMI Prisons' inspection report: https://hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmipris_reports/hmp-winchester-5/

“The majority of children placed on remand and bailed within seven days or fewer are placed in a young offender institution, where they experience long periods locked behind their doors with very little to do.” - Andrea Coomber. https://ow.ly/zTyJ50Z4AAR

"The government’s renewed desire to 'intervene earlier – and more effectively' risks a return to a hyperactive State meddling in young people’s lives." Thoughts on the Ministry of Justice's youth justice White Paper: https://howardleague.org/blog/the-youth-justice-white-paper/

“Prison is a toxic place for children, and spending even a few days in that environment can be terrifying and profoundly damaging.” Read our response to HMI Prisons' thematic review on children on short-term remand, published today: https://howardleague.org/news-views/

Issues at Long Lartin prison revealed by @_Imbs_: cells on four wings lack running water; the in-patient unit is unsuitable for people requiring mental health care, education cuts have affected wellbeing; and there is insufficient work to keep people occupied. https://ow.ly/rWA650Z2Iu1

Here are the most overcrowded prisons in England and Wales in April. In our overcrowding explainer we take a look at why prisons are overcrowded, why it matters and consider what could be done instead: https://howardleague.org/why-are-prisons-overcrowded/ #LiftTheLidOnPrison #PrisonOvercrowding

"The government’s renewed desire to 'intervene earlier – and more effectively' risks a return to a hyperactive State meddling in young people’s lives." Thoughts on the Ministry of Justice's youth justice White Paper: https://howardleague.org/blog/the-youth-justice-white-paper/

"The government’s renewed desire to 'intervene earlier – and more effectively' risks a return to a hyperactive State meddling in young people’s lives." Thoughts on the Ministry of Justice's youth justice White Paper: https://howardleague.org/blog/the-youth-justice-white-paper/

"The government’s renewed desire to 'intervene earlier – and more effectively' risks a return to a hyperactive State meddling in young people’s lives." Thoughts on the Ministry of Justice's youth justice White Paper: https://howardleague.org/blog/the-youth-justice-white-paper/

In January 2026, the Sentencing Act received Royal Assent after swift passage through Parliament. Here are the key changes and when these changes will begin: https://howardleague.org/blog/what-is-changing-under-the-sentencing-act-2026-and-when/ #SentencingAct2026

"A major Muslim organisation has warned that Muslims are three times overrepresented in the prison population – and called for “urgent responses” from the Muslim community." https://insidetime.org/newsround/muslim-over-representation-in-prison-requires-urgent-responses-says-muslim-charity/

Worrying findings from Holme House prison, which was recently re-rolled from Cat C to Cat B. Assaults and use of force have increased. Seventeen people died in a year, either in the prison or within two weeks of release. More in IMB's annual report: https://ow.ly/qpYX50Z2CYt (📸 by Andy Aitchison)

“Ministers have been urged to end the 'catastrophic cycle' of never-ending prison recalls for inmates trapped under abolished indefinite jail terms.” https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/ipp-sentence-prison-recall-period-b2979683.html #IPP #JusticeForIPPs

"Chipped teeth, broken noses, facial injuries, head injuries, scars..." Our Legal Director, Gemma Abbott, details the injuries we hear young people sustaining from use of force in prison in our Spotlights webinar. Catch up here: https://howardleague.org/spotlights/

In 2024, 65% of pain inducing techniques used against children and young people in YOIs and training centres, were “outside of policy”, or what we would call unlawful. Catch up on our Spotlights webinar on use of force: https://howardleague.org/spotlights/

At 10 England, Wales and Northern Ireland have the youngest age of criminal responsibility in Europe. The age is 14 in Germany, 15 in Sweden and 16 in Portugal. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/criminal-age-responsibility-above-10-82vlkrpqw

"What do you think is going to happen in a prison if you're walking around with a bodysuit with a taser? You're going to create more distance between prisoner / staff relations." Mike recalls how use of force escalates violence in prison: https://howardleague.org/spotlights/ #LiftTheLidOnPrison

Here are the most overcrowded prisons in England and Wales in April. In our overcrowding explainer we take a look at why prisons are overcrowded, why it matters and consider what could be done instead: https://howardleague.org/why-are-prisons-overcrowded/ #LiftTheLidOnPrison #PrisonOvercrowding

In January 2026, the Sentencing Act received Royal Assent after swift passage through Parliament. Here are the key changes and when these changes will begin: https://howardleague.org/blog/what-is-changing-under-the-sentencing-act-2026-and-when/ #SentencingAct2026

“Nine homicides in a year is shocking and would be a national scandal in any other public institution. The government must act urgently to improve conditions and safety for people in our prisons, before more lives are lost.” https://ow.ly/ugg750YVqVb

“I only started resisting when my head got stamped on.” At our Spotlights event on use of force, Mike told us about the first time he experienced excessive force in prison. 📺 Watch: https://howardleague.org/spotlights/ #LiftTheLidOnPrison

"The prison service faces severe sanction by the health and safety regulator after it exposed staff and inmates to dangerous levels of deadly radon gas." People living and working in Dartmoor prison have been exposed to the gas for a "prolonged period of time": https://ow.ly/sA7N50YZqCp

"Punched and kicked, resulting in injury... chipped teeth, broken noses, facial injuries, head injuries, scars..." Our Legal Director, Gemma Abbott, details the injuries we hear young people sustaining from use of force in prison. https://howardleague.org/spotlights/

"The detention of tens of thousands of people in fire-risk cells, and the government’s U-turn on a deadline to solve this, ought to amount to a national scandal." - Andrea Coomber KC (Hon.), Chief Executive of the Howard League. https://ow.ly/Wizc50YYQP3

"The number of men taking their own lives, the use of drugs and overcrowding remain significant problems at HMP Leeds, a report has found." - BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2427zyrerqo

Here are the most overcrowded prisons in England and Wales in April. In our overcrowding explainer we take a look at why prisons are overcrowded, why it matters and consider what could be done instead: https://howardleague.org/why-are-prisons-overcrowded/ #LiftTheLidOnPrison #PrisonOvercrowding

"What do you think is going to happen in a prison if you're walking around with a bodysuit with a taser? You're going to create more distance between prisoner / staff relations." Mike recalls how use of force escalates violence in prison: https://howardleague.org/spotlights/ #LiftTheLidOnPrison

“Nine homicides in a year is shocking and would be a national scandal in any other public institution. The government must act urgently to improve conditions and safety for people in our prisons, before more lives are lost.” https://ow.ly/6RKb50YVqTI

"I'm sure John Howard would see progress in some aspects, but I think he'd be a bit disappointed to see some of the conditions that people are facing right now." As we approach our 160th anniversary, BBC News explore our history and John Howard’s legacy: https://ow.ly/LHn350YMHLl

"The number of men taking their own lives, the use of drugs and overcrowding remain significant problems at HMP Leeds, a report has found." https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2427zyrerqo

There have been welcome reductions in self-harm in prison. Rates of self-harm fell in both men's and women's prisons. In 2025 prisons recorded 72,753 incidents of self-harm, at a rate of one every seven minutes. https://ow.ly/5waP50YUYJL

"The whole point of prison, in my eyes... is to rehabilitate someone, because ultimately everyone's going to get out. It's how you want them to get out and how you want them to see society and authority in the future." More from Mike here: https://howardleague.org/spotlights/ #LiftTheLidOnPrison

“I only started resisting when my head got stamped on.” At our Spotlights event on use of force, Mike told us about the first time he experienced excessive force in prison. 📺 Watch: https://howardleague.org/spotlights/ #LiftTheLidOnPrison

“Nine homicides in a year is shocking and would be a national scandal in any other public institution. The government must act urgently to improve conditions and safety for people in our prisons, before more lives are lost.” - Andrea Coomber KC (Hon.). https://ow.ly/VEzc50YSm4R

Published this morning, the Ministry of Justice's safety in custody stats reveal welcome reductions in overall deaths and self-harm in prison, but a concerning rise in homicides and serious violence. Read our response here: https://ow.ly/n38250YSlH5

Why are so many people coming to harm? And what can be done to make prisons safer? Last chance to join us for our Spotlights event 'Safety in custody' today at 2pm! Sign up here: https://howardleague.org/events/howard-league-spotlights-safety-in-custody/

Here are March's 10 most overcrowded prisons in England and Wales. Prisons in England and Wales face an overcrowding crisis of unprecedented proportions. https://howardleague.org/prisons-information/

"The whole point of prison, in my eyes... is to rehabilitate someone, because ultimately everyone's going to get out. It's how you want them to get out and how you want them to see society and authority in the future." More from Mike here: https://howardleague.org/spotlights/ #LiftTheLidOnPrison

📊 New data from @thehowardleague.bsky.social reveals the top 10 most crowded prisons: 1. Wandsworth 2. Leeds 3. Durham howardleague.org/prisons-info...

"According to the Howard League for Penal Reform, Category B prisons tend to be the most overcrowded, with a "constantly churning population"." Inhumane conditions inside Wandsworth, the most overcrowded prison in the UK: https://ow.ly/CsNP50YRC1r

"I'm sure John Howard would see progress in some aspects, but I think he'd be a bit disappointed to see some of the conditions that people are facing right now." As we approach our 160th anniversary, BBC News explore our history and John Howard’s legacy: https://ow.ly/gWZo50YMHCx

There is a safety crisis in prisons in England and Wales. The death toll behind bars rose by 15% last year – to the highest level on record. Join us on Thursday as we discuss the issue of safety in custody: https://howardleague.org/events/howard-league-spotlights-safety-in-custody/

Why are so many people coming to harm in prison? And what can be done to make prisons safer? Join us online on Thursday 30 April for the next event in our Howard League Spotlights series, on safety in custody: https://howardleague.org/events/howard-league-spotlights-safety-in-custody/

“Fire safety has largely remained under the radar until now. But the long-running detention of tens of thousands of people in fire-risk cells, and the Government’s U-turn on a deadline to solve this, amount to a national scandal." - Andrea Coomber KC (Hon.). https://ow.ly/jWpf50YMGWP