A prison overrun with cockroaches, which has unlawfully held inmates beyond their release dates in “alarming conditions,” has been placed under special measures.
Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor issued an urgent notification for HMP Pentonville in Islington, north London, following an inspection that revealed numerous inmates were detained past their release dates due to staff “failing to accurately calculate sentences.”
The oversight authority reported that data indicated 130 inmates—approximately 20% of those eligible for release—had been incorrectly held after their scheduled release in the past six months.
Prisons Minister, Lord Timpson, commented, “The team is already actively addressing the issues raised.”
“We will be releasing an action plan in the forthcoming weeks to assist in their endeavors,” he noted.
Mr. Taylor emphasized the urgency for government intervention.
“In essence, individuals are being unlawfully confined by the state because the prison cannot accurately compute their sentences,” he stated. “The secretary of state has 28 days to respond to my letter with a corrective action plan regarding Pentonville.”
Additionally, the inspectors found that 10 inmates had been released prematurely “by mistake” between July 2024 and June 2025.
In a communication to the justice secretary, the chief inspector described the processes for inducting new inmates and managing their first nights in the facility as “chaotic and even terrifying.”
According to the inspection, men were housed in unsanitary cells lacking bedding, furniture, telephones, and pillows, with the majority of prisoners confined to their cells for over 22 hours each day.
The report also indicated that 60% of prisoners in the Category B institution were sharing cells meant for single occupancy, accompanied by a severe infestation of mice and cockroaches.
Inspectors took urgent measures upon discovering that the supervision of inmates requiring constant oversight was “shockingly inadequate.” One officer was caught sleeping, two were found reading, and another was noted as being “entirely absent.”
Inspectors raised particular concerns regarding the “unacceptable practices” in the management of inmates under constant observation, especially in light of three suicides that occurred at the facility in 2025.
Mr. Taylor remarked, “Pentonville is an overcrowded, inner-city, Victorian prison with a longstanding history of poor performance.”
“A significant number of its staff have grown disillusioned with the prospects for improvement or their ability to enact change,” he stated. “However, many of its alarming failures are directly manageable by leadership.”
He further commented, “The governor will require substantial support and investment from HM Prison and Probation Service to strengthen his senior team, concentrate on fundamentals, and implement effective oversight and assurance strategies to rehabilitate this failing institution.”
“We plan to return to the facility within a year and will be looking for marked advancements in prisoner safety, as well as ensuring basic tasks, such as sentence calculations, are executed properly.”
Pentonville marks the tenth prison to receive an urgent notification since November 2022.
In reaction to the chief inspector’s observations, a representative from the Prison Reform Trust stated, “This urgent notification should serve as a clarion call for immediate action—overhaul the failing infrastructure, enhance staff training, and treat prisoners with dignity.”
Lord Timpson added, “This government is determined to rectify the disarray we inherited in our prisons. We are constructing 14,000 new prison places and reforming sentencing to decrease recidivism, reduce crime, and ensure victim safety.”
