Legal News

With the prisons becoming overcrowded by the day an official watchdog has warned that it would mean the prisoners were not being treated with appropriate decency.
The prisoners say that the number of people sharing a cell meant there was no more place in the prison they even claimed that the conditions were so bad that they had to sit on the toilet to eat their meals.
The complaints had been made to the national council of Independent Monitoring Boards (IMB) the panels of volunteer members of the public who inspect jails in England and Wales.
The IMB conducted study, published the report which found food was the major cause of complaint among the inmates. It was told that the meals were too small, of poor quality or cold when served.
The pen annum cost of feeding a prisoner has been calculated to £1,000 and on the whole it costs taxpayers around £91million every year.
Under the rules meals must be 'wholesome, nutritious, well prepared and served, reasonably varied and sufficient in quantity.
The report said that main cause cited by the comments were focused on inadequate or worn out kitchens and equipment.
It added there was a long term lack of accommodation that meant some prisoners had to sit on the toilet to eat their meals, which affects the respect and decency with which prisoners were to be treated.
Prison Service spokesman defended the arrangement, saying having inmates eat in cells was 'operationally essential'. Those inmates who are considered as dangerous are often given their meals in their cell.
Inmates must be given a choice of at least five different dishes for their dinner. Governors are required to provide enough variety so that the same options do not appear more than once every month.
Critics of hospital food have pointed out that thousands of patients have as little as £1 per day spent on their meals. That is less than half the £2.20 budgeted by the Ministry of Justice for each inmate.
Dr Peter Selby, former Bishop of Worcester, the President of the IMB’s National Council said IMBs nationwide were expressing in their annual reports concern about the abandonment of provisions for the prisoners which were aimed at reducing re-offending. He added that the decent treatment of all prisoners was essential to their successful resettlement.