The Strangeway Riots

What were the causes of the prison riots in the 1990`s and how effective was the government response?

A study concerning the causes of prison riots by Scraton, Sim & Skidmore (1991), indicate that most explanations of riots fall into two categories. The first explanation is the deprivation theory, a response to poor prison conditions. The deprivation theory explains that prisoners will revolt in the face of food shortages, overcrowding, oppressive custodial discipline, sadistic staff, racism or any other inhumane circumstances (Rule 1988).

The Home Secretary, appointed Chief Justice Lord Woolf to lead an Inquiry into the causes and consequences of the riot. The conclusion was, inhumane living conditions, which included mass overcrowding, excessive time locked up in cells, poor unsanitary conditions and a poor relationship between staff and inmates (Woolf & Tumin 1991).

However, William & Ratttray (2004) take the view that conditions of a prison alone cannot always be a motive for a riot. Research shows that prisons with bad conditions have remained riot free, whereas riots have occurred in prisons where conditions have been recently improved. William & Ratttray (2004) suggest that a second explanation, an administrative breakdown, could also be a factor of the Strangeways riots. The

Woolf made 204 proposals and 12 main recommendations. His conclusion was that a stable prison should implement security, control and justice (Woolf & Tumin 1991). However, Sim (1994) believes that Woolfs aim to maintain hegemony, ignored the unequal power relations and social injustice. Sim also suggests that the reports emphasis simply on providing a service, and the quality of these services as a replacement for the legitimacy or justification for these services. Scott (2001) believes Woolf has increased a managerialist