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Wormwood Scrubs prison 'filthy and unsafe'

One of the country's most well-known prisons has been heavily criticised by inspectors who said it was "filthy", unsafe and under-resourced.

Inspectors said Wormwood Scrubs in west London had "shockingly" failed to put in place recommendations to tackle suicide and self-harm among inmates.

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Wormwood Scrubs prison 'filthy and unsafe'

One of the country's most well-known prisons has been heavily criticised by inspectors who said it was "filthy", unsafe and under-resourced.

Inspectors said Wormwood Scrubs in west London had "shockingly" failed to put in place recommendations to tackle suicide and self-harm among inmates.

HMP Wormwood Scrubs has come in for severe criticism. Credit: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire/Press Association Images

A report from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) put some of the failings down to a mass exodus of experienced staff after a restructuring last year.

HMIP found many cells meant for one prisoner were holding two, many windows were broken and some of the toilets were filthy.

The report also noted that a "significant" backlog of around 100 new prisoners meant the prison was not coping with the volumes of inmates arriving.

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