Prison Crisis

‘So far we have successfully avoided loss of life during serious disturbances but if the present trend continues there will be a serious loss of control… In such circumstances there is a probability of both staff and prisoners being killed.’

This dramatic warning, given by the prison governors to the Labour Home Secretary, Mr Merlyn Rees, stimulated the setting up of the May Committee in 1978. That Committee then reported and revealed how dangerously explosive the prison system had become. ...