Older inmates ‘locked in their cells all day long’

ELDERLY prisoners are being locked up in their cells for most of the day as jails do not know what to do with them.

The over-50s make up a large percentage of prison populations in England and Wales and in some institutions more than half the inmates are elderly.

A report by Peter Clarke, the chief inspector of prisons, says provision for them is “variable and underdeveloped” and some jails “provide no specific provision and little meaningful activity for older prisoners not in work”.

As a result, many were locked up for almost 24 hours a day, the report found.

Experts say most prisons cannot deal with people in wheelchairs or with those who need help in getting around. In many cases, other prisoners were being asked to provide support.

The review also noted a “shockingly” high number of inmates developing a drug habit behind bars and also expressed concern that 27 per cent of prison suicides occurred within the first month of arrival. Rory Stewart, the Justice minister, said the Government had listened carefully to Mr Clarke.