Brixton: spotlighting horrific prison conditions

Nothing demonstrates more acutely than the suicide rate what dangerous places prisons are

INQUEST has campaigned about self-inflicted deaths in prison since its inception. 

In the 1980s and early 1990s, INQUEST highlighted 'The Scandal of Brixton Prison' through pickets, media work and reports. 

At the time, HMP Brixton earned itself the title of 'suicide capital' of the prison system. Fifteen people died there between 1988 and 1990. 

Following the escape of two prisoners from HMP Brixton in July 1991, Judge Stephen Tumin was sent to inspect the prison and write a report.

The critical report described the inhumane conditions of the infamous F Wing (the pyschiatric unit), the utter lack of care for prisoners and 'filfthy conditions' across the prison. 

Ex-prisoner Keith Dunn, who spoke at the INQUEST annual general meeting in 1989, said: 

I can imagine what Bedlam was like now I've been in Brixton ... The RSPCA wouldn't put up with those conditions for animals.

Click below to read more about INQUEST campaigns on conditions in Brixton prison and Judge Tumin's report.

Learn more about Paul Worrell and Carl Owens, who were imprisoned there and died in 1981 and 1994.