Foreign National Prisoners Neglected

There are a record 9,000 foreign national prisoners in jails in England and Wales, one in eight of the overall prison population, following an almost threefold increase in numbers over the past decade, according to a report published today by the Prison Reform Trust.

The briefing paper, Forgotten Prisoners - The Plight of Foreign National Prisoners in England and Wales says their needs are being overlooked and they are not being given the attention and support they require. It says that in some cases they are treated with disrespect and experience racism, and it highlights the fact that foreign nationals are being kept in prison well beyond their sentence with no idea when they might be released.
 
The report notes that there are now two prisons, the Verne in Dorset and the women’s prison Morton Hall in Lincolnshire, where foreign national prisoners make up half or more of the population. In sixteen prisons they make up a quarter or more. These include:

Belmarsh in London, Blundeston in Suffolk, Brixton in London, Coldingly in Surrey, Cookham Wood in Kent, Downview in Surrey, Drake Hall in Staffordshire, Feltham in London, Highpoint in Suffolk, Send in Surrey, Swaleside in Kent, The Mount in Hertfordshire and Pentonville and Wormwood Scrubs in London. (For a full list see below)

The report concludes that despite good practice in a few jails, across the prison estate staff are generally unaware of the very distinct needs of foreign national prisoners and services are sub-standard.

The Prison Reform Trust is calling on the Government to ensure that the Prison Service draws up a strategy on foreign national prisoners that sets out an action plan to meet their needs in every prison.

The report highlights a number of areas where foreign nationals needs are being neglected:

* Language barriers - There has been a failure to provide adequate translation and interpretation facilities which means prisoners  miss out on basic provisions, such as showers and association because they have not understood staff instructions or basic questions. A recent Prison Service survey found that nearly 90 per cent of prisons holding foreign national prisoners are not are not making regular use of the available translation service.

* Isolation and mental health concerns – Foreign national prisoners experience unnecessary difficulties trying to maintain family contact, especially fulfilling their roles as parents. Separation from family in an alien environment can mean that their mental health needs are often greater than for other prisoners.

* Legal and immigration issues – Many foreign nationals remain in jail having completed their sentence because there is a failure by the authorities to monitor and then make arrangements for those who have been recommended for deportation. Foreign national prisoners struggle to access legal and immigration advice during their sentence.

* Racism – Foreign national prisoners say that racism and a lack of respect and understanding from prison staff is not uncommon.

* Preparation for release – There is a lack of proper procedures in place to prepare foreign nationals for their release and there are insufficient resettlement programmes specifically for foreign national prisoners.

Speaking today  the Prison Reform Trust’s senior policy officer and author of the report, Enver Solomon, said:

‘The Prison Service is failing to meet the needs of foreign national prisoners and in some cases they are being treated as if they are second class citizens. Others are subject to what is in effect a double punishment remaining in prison having served their sentence awaiting removal.

With the numbers increasing so dramatically it is now critical that the Prison Service implements a strategy to ensure foreign national prisoners have equal and open access to services and facilities and that their concerns are not overlooked.’

The Director of the Prison Reform Trust, Juliet Lyon, added:

‘By ignoring the plight of foreign national prisoners the Home Office is guilty of neglecting one in eight people in our jails.’