Holloway Prison 'extremely difficult to run safely'

Holloway Prison 'extremely difficult to run safely'

Holloway Prison is "extremely difficult to run safely", with about 60% of inmates feeling unsafe at some point, inspectors have said.



One inmate described the UK's largest women's jail in north London as "a very scary place for a first-time prisoner".

Intimidation is rife and staff are hampered by the poor design of the prison.

There were also reports of inappropriate behaviour by male prison officers, the inspectors found.

The prison's design, which was intended to produce an atmosphere more like a hospital than a prison, was recognised as a failure in the 1980s as its lack of traditional wings or landings, and a maze of corridors, means warders have difficulty monitoring inmates'.