A new report published by HM Inspectorate of Prisons has found that those in custody have limited access to physical activity in prison – despite its proven ability to help fitness, mental health, improve relationships and behaviour – and support rehabilitation.
Inspectors found that around 18% to 25% of men in prison could not use the gym or play sport in their jail, whilst this figure rose to 28% in women’s jails. Only 13% of men in prison – and 15% of women in prison – said that they could access opportunities for physical activity more than five times a week and many had little or no access to the gym on weekends – despite no other activities being on.
The report did, however, find some examples of positive practice, such as that of HMP Hatfield, where team games were organised during weekends and weekday evenings.
HM Chief Inspector Charlie Taylor concluded:
“Many jails have worked hard to increase access and encourage a wider range of prisoners to visit the gym by establishing varied and imaginative programmes. Too few prisoners, however, remain unable to benefit from them. I hope prisons will learn from what the best are doing and that the prison service will make use of the evidence we provide in this report to improve provision.”
To read the full report, click here.