Long Lartin inspection report 2023
Report for Long Lartin Prison
Summary
Located in the Vale of Evesham, Worcestershire, Long Lartin is a high security prison holding up to 514 adult men, many of whom are among the highest risk and most serious offenders in the country. At the time of our inspection, for example, of the 478 prisoners in residence, 141 were designated as category A, the highest security classification, and 449 were serving indeterminate sentences including life. Walking around the prison wings, we met many individuals who faced or had already spent many years, even decades, in the prison, with the imposition and requirements of security an ever-present pressure on their experience. Many expressed to us their frustrations with life in Long Lartin, and some their sense of hopelessness. Overall, this inspection was disappointing, with assessments in three of our four healthy prison tests – safety, purposeful activity, and rehabilitation and release planning – all deteriorating since we last inspected in 2018. Only in respect did outcomes remain the same, although it was still judged not sufficiently good.