Grim reality of prison conditions laid bare in damning report 10. June 2026 (01:02) Inmates in England and Wales live among vermin while gangs control entire wings, monitors warn, with failures ‘at risk of becoming normalised’Staff at immigration detention centre wore England flags, report findsThe independent monitoring board’s annual report of conditions across the prison estate of England and Wales is stark and unflinching.Men and women are held for long periods in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, often living alongside vermin. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Staff at immigration detention centre wore England flags, report finds 10. June 2026 (01:02) Chair of prisons and detention watchdog concerned about intimidating effect as wide-ranging and damning review publishedGrim reality of prison conditions laid bare in damning reportStaff at an immigration detention centre wore England flags pinned to their uniforms while guarding migrants, a report from the prisons and detention watchdog has revealed.Their use by staff at one of the Home Office’s short-term holding facilities to detain migrants is revealed in the Independent Monitoring Boards’ national annual report, published on Wednesday, which is based on 127 annual reports about different prisons, young offender institutions and immigration detention centres. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Lammy’s cuts to jury trials could have ‘far-reaching’ effect on race relations, say MPs 10. June 2026 (01:02) Justice secretary’s plans likely to increase black people’s suspicion of court system, committee suggestsDavid Lammy’s planned changes to the criminal courts in England and Wales could have a “far-reaching” impact on race relations, a cross-party committee of MPs has concluded.The deputy prime minister’s plan to remove the right to elect for a crown court trial “has the potential to increase mistrust in the criminal justice system among the black community”, the justice select committee said, because black defendants are more likely to elect for trial. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Cattle in England to get tuberculosis vaccine from 2030 as badger cull to end 10. June 2026 (01:01) Targeted vaccination and improved testing planned as part of drive to eradicate disease by 2038Cattle will be vaccinated against tuberculosis from 2030 as a “gamechanging” part of a new strategy to drive eradication of the disease in England by 2038. In parallel, the last badger culls are expected to end by 2029, with vaccination of badgers expanded.More than 20,000 infected cattle are slaughtered each year, costing taxpayers £100m and inflicting a heavy toll on affected farmers’ livelihoods and mental health. Mass culling of badgers began in 2013 and has killed about 250,000 animals, at a cost of about £60m. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Thousands of men with prostate cancer to get trailblazing new therapy on the NHS that slashes appointments by three-quarters and has fewer side-effects
Number of children reading books for fun increases for first time in 5 years