INSPECTORS have condemned a Victorian prison for its squalid conditions, violence, understaffing and rising rates of self-harm, with hundreds of men locked in their cells for 23 hours a day.

Calls to the Samaritans help line from desperate prisoners in HMP Lewes in Sussex have increased despite warnings eight months ago that conditions must improve, HM Inspectorate of Prisons reported today.

The Howard League for Penal Reform said the report demonstrated that “for thousands of people in prison, lockdown conditions have continued long after the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

The inspectorate said that since an inspection eight months ago conditions at the prison, which houses more than 600 prisoners, had worsened.

Charlie Taylor, chief inspector of prisons said: “Eight months on from the full inspection, our latest visit found a worrying lack of overall progress at Lewes.

“Time out of cell was among the worst we have seen outside pandemic restrictions, and we were left concerned for prisoners’ wellbeing.

“It was notable that the number of calls to the Samaritans was escalating. Without significant further action to stabilise officer numbers, this situation was unlikely to improve.”

Rob Preece of the Howard League for Penal Reform said the conditions were linked to severe understaffing, and that increased calls to the Samaritans “reflect the growing despair” of prisoners.

“These conditions will never help people to turn their lives around and move on from crime,” he warned.

“This is why the government’s plan to build more prisons – at a time when there are insufficient staff to run the ones we already have – is so reckless.”

A Prison Service spokesperson said: “This report makes it clear that not enough progress has been made since the last inspection.

“We are working urgently to improve care and support for the most vulnerable prisoners through renewed training for staff, and are bolstering the education and training on offer so offenders can get trained up while behind bars to find a job on release.

“We have also invested in cutting-edge technology for HMP Lewes in order to keep out the drugs, phone and weapons that can fuel violence inside jails.”