Lincoln Prison handbook's 'execution' error spotted Published duration 17 November 2010

A translation error at a UK prison labelled an exercise yard as an "execution yard" in the draft of an information booklet for Russian inmates.

An inspection report mentioned the faux pas at Lincoln Prison in a section on foreign prisoners.

The translation was spotted by a member of staff at the proof stage, the Ministry of Justice said.

The report said all translated material "should be verified."

'Not funny'

No other translation errors were noted in the report.

Nick Hardwick, chief inspector of prisons, said: "This is an example where actually making sure prisoners have properly translated material is important.

"You could treat it as a bit of a joke unless you were that prisoner and you didn't understand how the British prison service worked and came from a country that still had execution yards. It wouldn't be a funny thing for him."

The report praised the prison for having a better range of translated information for the 82 foreign national prisoners, but said staff had raised concerns that some translations were not "entirely accurate".

Mr Hardwick said the Victorian jail, which was hit by riots in 2002, was making slow progress.