Chelmsford Prison 'dreadful and unacceptable'

And it claims staff failed to learn the lessons of a tragedy in which a prisoner was kicked to death by his cell-mate.

The shocking revelations show many of the problems faced by the Essex jail after last year's inquiry into the death of Christopher Edwards are still highly criticised by the chief inspector of prisons, Sir David Ramsbotham.

It was discovered during an announced visit last October by prison inspectors some officers still failed to respond to emergency cell call bells, five years after Christopher Edwards died.

In one instance during the visit the bell was ignored three times by duty staff at the Springfield Road prison.

Sir David said: "This was totally unacceptable. Staff should respond to the cell call system and check the welfare of their prisoners frequently."

The failure of staff to respond to the bell system came under fire in the official inquiry into the murder of Mr Edwards at the prison by fellow inmate and schizophrenic Richard Linford five years ago.

"There can be absolutely no excuse for this and I am staggered it should still be the case."

Sir David said if he were a member of staff at the jail or had any responsibility for it "I would not feel very proud about this report".

Philip Leach, director of law and policy at human rights group Liberty and Christopher Edwards' solicitor, said: "What happened to Mr Edwards should never have happened to anyone.

"We are taking his case to the European Court of Human Rights to ensure such a tragedy never happens again."

Sir David's report also called for urgent provision for money to build a new reception area and gatehouse.

Even the governor at Chelmsford Prison Alison Gomme said the situation was dire.

"The report does not make very good reading," she admitted. "We do not intend to defend what is clearly a totally improper and unprofessional response from a minority of staff."

She added new cell call bells were currently being installed across the Victorian part of the prison to make sure staff have to visit the cell in order to turn the alarm off.

Sir David said he would inspect the jail again in a year's time to see what progress had been made.

Governor at Chelmsford Prison Alison Gomme Catalogue of errors - again

The inspection report, published today, is the second highly critical catalogue of errors within the past two years.

In September 1996 Sir David Ramsbotham described Chelmsford Prison as "dreadful" especially in relation to the call bell system and the mixing of adult and young offenders in the same wings.

Then the prison was declared to be in need of special managerial attention.

"Regrettably, two years later, conditions for prisoners remained unacceptably bad," said Sir David.

"At least young offenders are now held separately from adults, but their regime leaves a lot to be desired".

But he added: "I do not believe true progress can be made until conditions exist in which it is possible."

He said the new reception area was long overdue and deferring the building led to cynicism in the prison that it would ever happen -- leading to staff morale being at rock bottom. Panel on major deficiencies

There was a glimmer of hope within the grim news.

Sir David Ramsbotham revealed there had been better relationships between staff and prisoners and this was due to an improvement of a personal officer scheme launched after the 1996 report.

Better custody planning for young and disturbed prisoners had also started to take place and CCTV cameras had been put into the visits room for added security.

Governor Alison Gomme said improvements were taking place as the report was being written.

"You have to work hard to find the good points within the report but we are improving," she said.

"Last year there were 18,000 prisoner movements. This is a lot of work to deal with and our facilities are overused. The reception area work is under way and should be finished by the end of April." The main problems

Cell call bell system in the older wings only able to determine the floor level of the prisoner requiring attention - not individual cells

There had been four different governors in four years

Prisoners had to strip in reception in front of staff, where passers-by would see

Dressing gowns were not washed between use by prisoners

No telephone was available for prisoners arriving at night to contact family

System for handling clean and dirty laundry was unhygienic

One wing housed young offenders and adults on different levels

Not all prisoners had access to hot water during the evening lock-up period

Boredom and lack of constructive activity was criticised on one wing

Inmates often spent long periods alone in cells

Induction, especially for young offenders, was insufficient

Education classes were often cancelled and teaching periods were short

Large pigeon population living around jail -- often feathers and corpses were sucked into ventilation system and into cells. MP 'disturbed' by problems

Chelmsford West MP Simon Burns said he was deeply disturbed by the complaints made by the Inspector of Prisons.

He said: "It really is time the Prison Service paid attention to the needs of Chelmsford Prison and made the necessary improvements so there is not another shameful and damning report on the prison by the Chief Inspector.

"I will be tabling parliamentary questions seeking assurance that action will be taken to make the necessary urgent improvements to Chelmsford Prison," he added.

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