EAST LANCASHIRE MPs today demanded action from Home Secretary Jack Straw the report on Preston Prison.

Burnley's Peter Pike, Hyndburn's Greg Pope and Ribble Valley's Nigel Evans want to see recommendations made by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons acted upon.

Labour MP Mr Pike - one of whose constituents took his own life there - said: "I have raised serious concerns about Preston Prison in the past. I shall be studying the report's recommendations carefully. I shall be asking Jack Straw to tell us what he is going to do. This report must be acted upon and not allowed to gather dust on a shelf in the Home Office."

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope, a Government Whip, said: "Obviously I am extremely concerned. Preston is the nearest prison to my constituency and I have constituents in there. I am deeply concerned about the conclusions regarding the attitude of some staff towards inmates who are at risk of suicide. Action should be take to correct this.

"Obviously part of the problem is that this is an old Victorian building and it is clearly wrong that visits should take place in temporary portable cabins. We need to build a prison service fit for the 21st century not the 19th and I shall be making representations to the Home Secretary about implementing the conclusions of this report."

Tory front-bencher Mr Evans said: "This is an incredible report. I think Jack Straw should study this report carefully. I shall be contacting the governor of Preston Prison to discuss the report and be shown round the prison which I have not visited for some years.

"After that I shall be seeking a meeting with the Home Secretary to discuss the findings and what he is going to do about them."

Mr Straw was unavailable for comment.

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