Government steps in to stabilise ‘Britain’s worst prison’

G4S has handed over control of Birmingham Prison to the UK government after inspectors said it had fallen into a ‘state of crisis’.

Chief inspector of prisons Peter Clarke labelled it as the “worst prison” he had “ever been to”, telling BBC Radio 4's Today: “Surely somebody must have been asleep at the wheel”.

He claimed that some inmates were too scared to leave their cells, noting a "dramatic deterioration" in conditions since 2016’s riot. Mr Clarke also described a lack of order, with those perpetrating violence able to act with "near impunity".

Mr Clarke added that groups of staff had locked themselves in their own offices, and that parts of the prison were found to be filthy, with blood, vomit and rat droppings on the floor.

In a bid to stabilise the facility, a new governor and extra staff will be brought in and the capacity of the jail will be cut by 300.

This is the first time the government has had to step in and take over a privately run UK prison midway through a contract since the first one opened in 1992.

Prisons minister Rory Stewart told the BBC: “What we have seen at Birmingham is unacceptable and it has become clear that drastic action is required to bring about the improvements we require.”

G4S won a 15-year contract to operate HMP Birmingham - formerly known as Winson Green Prison - in 2011, but it will not resume control until ministers feel that "sufficient progress" has been made.

Shortly after taking over operation of the prison, G4S had to spend almost £500,000 replacing all of the keys and locks in the facility after the master keys went missing.