The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) has published its latest report on the United Kingdom, following a visit to several places of detention in the country last spring.

The report expresses deep concern about “severe generalised violence” in a number of UK prisons and says that none of the prisons visited by the CPT delegation could be considered safe for prisoners or staff.

It says that chronic overcrowding in the UK prison system has a negative effect on many aspects of prison life, with a considerable number of prisoners spending up to 22 hours per day – and sometimes more – locked in their cells.

Inadequate safeguards to protect patients in mental health settings are also highlighted in the report, which makes a number of recommendations to the UK authorities.