Britain's most dangerous convicts reveal reality of life in highly restricted 'jails within jails'

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The grim day-to-day existence of the 60 most-dangerous convicts in the country has been described in unprecedented detail, in a new report on the Prison Service’s highly restricted specialist units. The inspector’s report shines a rare spotlight on the highly restricted and isolated regimes within the CSCs at Woodhill, Bucks; Manchester; Whitemoor, Cambs; Full Sutton, North Yorks; and Wakefield, West Yorks, with one inmate referring to the claustrophobic conditions as being like a “submarine”. However, we are examining why there is a higher proportion of black and minority ethnic prisoners in the close supervision centre system.” Overall, the report found high levels of staffing, control and scrutiny at the units, first set up by the Labour government in 1998, meant that violence was lower than in the rest of the prison estate. We do not underestimate the risk the men held in the CSC system pose or the complexity of working with them.” Michael Spurr, chief executive of the National Offender Management Service, said: “I’m pleased that the Chief Inspector has concluded that the close supervision centres are well-run and I echo his praise for the courage and professionalism of staff.” Specialist cases: Violent prisoners Long-term residents of specialist units are men who have carried out terrible crimes and continue with their violence behind the prison walls.