'Too many' prisoners locked in cells at HMP Risley

Mr Hardwick also criticised the "lacklustre approach" to education following a recent inspection

Too many prisoners spend daytime locked in their cells at a Cheshire prison, a report has said.

Chief Inspector of Prisons Nick Hardwick also said the use of strip-and-squat searching at HMP Risley was "disproportionate and inappropriate".

Mr Hardwick also criticised the "lacklustre approach" to education following a recent inspection.

The prison, near Warrington, is improving, but still has challenges to overcome, he said.

'Lack of purpose'

Mr Hardwick said inspectors found that prisoners felt safe, including vulnerable ones, and were positive about the support they received for substance misuse.

However, some prisoners complained of victimisation and too many prisoners were locked in cells during the working day - on average over a third of the population.

Andrew Neilson, of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: "This is the latest in a series of inspection reports which have raised concerns about a lack of purposeful activity for prisoners to do.

"Spending hours lying in bed each day won't prepare prisoners for work on their release."

Last November the Independent Monitoring Board expressed concerns that prisoners were spending up to 22 hours a day in their cells.