A PRISON, which prepares men for release, has been condemned for its “decrepit conditions, rising violence, self-harm and widespread illicit drug use.”

Conditions at HMP Rochester in Kent are so bad that HM Prisons Inspectorate has issued a formal “urgent notification” to Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood calling for action. 

The prison is the latest to be condemned after more than a decade of warnings from the Prison Officers’ Association and campaigners about worsening conditions in the prisons estate, including overcrowding, violence, drug abuse and staff shortages.

Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor said: “Rochester has been a prison of concern for many years with consistently poor outcomes, which stem from failures in leadership, both locally and nationally, and a lack of investment in a crumbling institution.

“This decade of decline, which has accelerated in the past 18 months, shows a shocking level of neglect.”

The Justice Ministry said an interim governor had been appointed at Rochester and work was underway “to resolve urgent and severe issues within 28 days,” including improved access to healthcare and living conditions.

Howard League for Penal Reform chief executive Andrea Coomber said: “The shocking details in the Chief Inspector’s letter reveal that people are being failed when they ought to be getting the support and skills they need to move on from crime and thrive after release.

“The government is right to take emergency action to address the immediate capacity crisis, but further measures to reduce the prison population will be needed to save lives and reduce crime.”