London Pentonville Prison Illegally Detains 130 Inmates Amid Infestation

HMP Pentonville, a Victorian-era prison in north London, has been placed into special measures following an urgent notification from Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor after a disturbing inspection. The inspection revealed that 130 inmates, about 20% of those eligible for release, were illegally detained beyond their release dates due to staff failures in accurately calculating sentences, while 10 prisoners were also released early in error. Conditions at the prison were described as "frightening," with prisoners confined for over 22 hours daily in dirty cells lacking basic necessities, and 60% of inmates were forced to share single-occupancy cells amid widespread infestations of mice and cockroaches. The care for vulnerable prisoners under constant supervision was found to be shockingly poor, with prison staff inattentive or absent, raising serious concerns especially after three suicides occurred in 2025. Chief Inspector Taylor criticized the prison staff's disillusionment and the facility's long history of poor performance, highlighting the urgent need for reform. The Minister for Prisons has acknowledged the issues and stated that a team is already working to address these concerns.