Three-quarters of prisons in England and Wales in appalling conditions as overcrowding fears grow

Observer investigation finds system is in worst state ever' as senior figures warn of inmates being warehoused'

The vast majority of prisons are providing inadequate conditions or unacceptable treatment, according to an Observer investigation that has led to claims of prisoners being warehoused" in a system in crisis.

An analysis of hundreds of inspections found that three-quarters of prisons in England and Wales are now providing insufficient standards in at least one respect.