Liverpool prison attacked over cockroaches and dirt
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Conditions at Liverpool Prison, western Europe's largest, have been condemned in a government report.
A report by the chief inspector of prisons said there was an "unacceptable regime" at the jail, which was infected with cockroaches, had broken windows and was generally unclean. Prisoners were unable to shower and change their clothes more than once a week.
The inspector, Anne Owers, said the prison was seriously underperforming. "The availability of association, exercise and showers was far below the average for other local prisons, with most prisoners having association only once a week, if that," she said. Conditions for new prisoners were among the worst the inspectors had seen.
A spokesman for the Prison Service said improvements were planned.Liverpool and HMP Dartmoor were both threatened with privatisation last month.