The new Justice Secretary has been dealt his first major blow as the prisons watchdog condemned conditions in a Victorian jail and described the system as "crisis-ridden".
Chief Inspector of Prisons Anne Owers said bullying was rife at Norwich jail, and conditions in one wing were "appalling".
She criticised the effects of the prisons overcrowding crisis which led prison vans to "roam far and wide" looking for spare cells in which to house inmates. The report came just 24 hours after Lord Falconer of Thoroton's new Ministry of Justice took over control of the prisons from the Home Office.
Ms Owers said of the 650-inmate jail: "Norwich displayed in microcosm the problems of an overcrowded, crisis-ridden prison system."
Managers' attempts to get on top of existing problems had been undermined or thrown off course by the national pressure on jail space, she added.
A dilapidated Victorian-built unit, the Gurney wing, had been emptied ready to be demolished, but had to be reopened to accommodate prisoners because of the overcrowding crisis, the report said.
"Conditions on the adult side of the prison had generally improved but remained appalling on Gurney unit. Cells were dirty, toilets were stained with limescale and showers were filthy, with paint flaking from their ceilings. Gurney unit should be closed down and demolished," it said.
Inmates were being bullied because of the unsafe way prescription medicines were handed out by the prison pharmacy, the report said. Other prisoners were ganging up on those prescribed detox drugs, hypnotics, codeine-based painkillers or benzodiazepines, and stealing their supplies, it added.
Director general of the Prison Service, Phil Wheatley, said: "I accept that Norwich is under operational pressure as a result of the rising national population and limited resourcing to fund major improvements to services.
"I am pleased that in spite of this significant improvements have taken place in suicide prevention, reception and induction, and support to prisoners with alcohol and drug problems. The long-term problems with Norwich A wing will be addressed as part of the major refurbishment programme as soon as population pressures allow."
