Royal College of Nursing motion condemns prison overcrowding

The Royal College of Nursing’s annual congress will today consider a motion to condemn prison overcrowding because of its impact on prisoners’ health and nursing staff.

A motion put forward by its Lewisham and north Southwark branch in south London, claims “serious and unprecedented” overcrowding was leading to “unsafe, degrading and unhealthy conditions for prisoners and staff” and that nurses were feeling the pressure.

It cited statistics showing 90 per cent of prisoners had a diagnosable mental health problem and highlighted issues around the high number of inmates with a learning disability and the plight of vulnerable women.

Related item
Mental health information