The Secret Life of Prisons11 Maalis 2024

Urgent Notification | Andrea Coomber KC and Sobanan Narenthiran

The Secret Life of Prisons is produced by a charity, the Prison Radio Association. To make a donation please visit prison.radio/donate.

In February 2024 a report on conditions in HMP Bedford by HM Inspectorate of Prisons described the prison as holding people in "some of the worst conditions the inspectors had ever seen".

The inspectors issued an Urgent Notification, which raises immediate, urgent concerns with the Secretary of State for Justice. It was the fifth Urgent Notification issued in 12 months, and HMP Bedford became the third establishment to receive two Urgent Notifications.

What's happening in these prisons? And what can be done to improve conditions?

Andrea Coomber KC is a barrister and Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform – a charity that campaigns for better conditions in prisons.

Sobanan Narenthiran runs a social enterprise called Breakthrough which aims to tackle the root causes of crime. Sobanan was imprisoned in 2017 when he was a student at Plymouth University and found himself in HMP Exeter – another prison that has received two Urgent Notifications.

Presenters: Phil Maguire – Chief Executive, Prison Radio Association Paula Harriott – Head of Prisoner Engagement, Prison Reform Trust

Producer: Andrew Wilkie

HMP Bedford inspection report (2024): https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/Bedford-web-2023.pdf

HMP Exeter urgent notification (2018): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/urgent-notification-for-hmp-exeter

The Prison Radio Association runs National Prison Radio, the world’s first national radio station for people serving prison sentences. We employ people in prison to develop their skills, find their best voices and help them find ways to lead crime-free lives after release.

Registered Charity in England & Wales 1114760

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(124)

Live at Clinks Conference 2026 | Lord James Timpson and Anne Fox

As the Sentencing Act 2026 receives royal assent, Phil and Paula take to the stage at Conway Hall in London as part of the Clinks annual conference 2026.Lord James Timpson was Chief Executive of Timps...

2 Helmi 47min

Waiting For The Out | Andy West and Ric Renton

Andy West teaches philosophy in prisons. His father and brother spent time behind bars and he wrote a memoir, The Life Inside, about his career in prisons which we featured in an episode back in May 2...

29 Joulu 202531min

Christmas Special: Louis Theroux Live at the Radio Festival

Every year the radio industry gathers for the Radio Festival in London. The event, run by a wonderful organisation called the Radio Academy, brings together radio professionals from across the country...

22 Joulu 202532min

Phil's mic drop

In 2006, Phil Maguire OBE left his job at the BBC to work in prisons. He joined a small group of committed, inspirational people to found a charity, the Prison Radio Association, which went on to tran...

19 Joulu 202546min

How the press reports crime | Beatrice Auty and Charlie Moloney

Beatrice Auty was released from prison last year and has since become a Longford Scholar, pursuing her academic interest in criminology. Before prison, Beatrice visited death row in the US and dreamt ...

15 Joulu 202539min

A gold award-winning episode of The Secret Life of Prisons

The Audio Production Awards take place every year to honour the very best in radio and podcast production in the UK. They're run by Audio UK, which represents audio producers, and are competed for by ...

8 Joulu 20251h

The Big Give 2025 | Faye Dunn and Toni Garrigos

If you would like to support the Prison Radio Association, visit prison.radio/biggive and your donation will be doubled!Faye Dunn and Toni Garrigos first met each other while serving sentences in HMP ...

1 Joulu 202536min

Inside a Drug Recovery Wing | Wayne Hickman and Ash

Drug Recovery Wings are specialist units in prisons that work to help people dealing with addictions as part of their prison sentences.Ash is no stranger to imprisonment and has lived with addiction s...

24 Marras 202530min