Partners of prisoners say their “human rights” are being denied as inmates struggle to keep cool during heatwaves
Prisoners are reportedly “passing out” during heatwave weather at a Liverpool jail, with partners of those inside saying they fear for their safety and wellbeing. The ECHO has spoken to the partners of two inmates of Altcourse Prison in Fazakerley who claim the prison is not properly using vents to keep the cells of inmates cool.
With a heatwave arriving again this weekend, the partners say they are now deeply concerned about the health of their loved ones. The prison is operated by private company Sodexo, who told the ECHO they have put measures in place to support prisoners during the hot weather.
But this is not the view of some of those with loved ones inside Altcourse. One partner wrote to the ECHO to express her “deep concern” about what she described as the “inhumane conditions currently being endured by prisoners” during the ongoing hot weather.
She claimed that prisoners were being kept in their cells for long periods with air vents closed, cutting off the airflow during “dangerously high temperatures.”
She told the ECHO: “These conditions are not only cruel but potentially life-threatening. There have already been incidents of inmates collapsing over the last few weeks due to extreme heat exhaustion.”
She suggested that even prison staff have been complaining about the heat and the conditions.
The partner added: “No matter what crimes individuals have committed, they are still human beings.”
They added: “The denial of basic ventilation during extreme weather is not just a violation of human rights — it’s a public health crisis in the making.”
A second partner of an Altcourse inmate has also spoken to the ECHO, raising her concerns for her partner’s health and safety in the prison.
She said: “There have been ongoing issues with the vents in the cells which make the air flow. I don’t think they have been working for months but obviously this has become a big issue now with the weather and the cells are extremely hot.
“My partner has been desperately trying to order a fan for his cell, but that hasn’t happened. He said his cellmate passed out at one point because of the heat.
“My partner is currently having to lie on a wet towel on the floor as his only way to keep cool in his cell. He said there is no other way of cooling down. He said it feels like a sauna and he has got really bad prickly heat.
“I think this is against their human rights, they have a right to be able to stay cool in there.”
They added: “Some days my partner says he finds it difficult to breathe. He is really suffering and so are others.”
An HMP Altcourse spokesperson said: “We appreciate that periods of hot weather can be difficult in prisons, and we have put in place measures to make sure that everyone has as much support as possible within the normal prison routine. This includes additional steps around increased ventilation and time in less confined areas.”
