Swansea prison accused of ‘inexcusable failures’ after four inmates kill themselves within week of arrival

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Despite stark warnings from the watchdog in 2014 that the prison must deliver better outcomes, the watchdog said the latest findings were “very disappointing”, adding that "the complacency warned about after the last inspection had been allowed to take hold”. A third of prisoners said they felt depressed or suicidal on arrival at Swansea, but inspectors noted that mental health provision “did not meet the high level of need”. Bold action to reduce the prison population would save lives, protect staff and prevent more people being swept into deeper currents of crime, violence and despair.” Peter Dawson, director of the Prison Reform Trust, echoed her concerns, saying: “The fundamentals of this depressing report about a failing prison are the same as so many others – too many prisoners crammed into inadequate space with too little to do. They need to tackle the fundamentals and end our national obsession with imprisonment.” Michael Spurr, chief executive of Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service, said: “The Governor and his team have taken immediate action since the inspection to strengthen safety arrangements in the prison and reduce self-harm.