Prison guards 'should knock before entering'

Prison wardens have been urged to show respect to inmates by knocking on cell doors before going in.

The advice was included in an inspection report from Anne Owers, the chief inspector of prisons.

Two of the main recommendations were that "staff should routinely knock before entering cells, except in emergencies", and that "staff should address prisoners by their preferred names".

A third of inmates were reported as claiming they did not feel they were treated with respect.

Glyn Travis, of the Prison Officers' Association, said: "If we have to knock on prisoners' cell doors we may as well give them a key and let them do what they want. There's got to be some modicum of sense."