Prison wing 'worst establishment' inspected for years

A prison wing for low-risk inmates has been described by inspectors as the "worst establishment we have inspected in many years" following an unannounced visit.

The category D side of HMP Lindholme, near Doncaster in South Yorkshire, had been "forgotten and neglected" after funding lost when the wing was returned to the prison service in January 2012 was not replaced.

Described as an "astonishing situation" by the inspectors, more than a third of prisoners interviewed had felt unsafe at some time, while drugs and alcohol were widely available on the wing, which was shut down shortly after the inspection.