Stephen Tumim

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Sir Stephen Tumim (30 August 1930 - 8 December 2003) was an English judge, and was Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons from 1987-1995.

Tumim was the son of a barrister, and was educated at St Edward's School, Oxford and Worcester College, Oxford. In 1978 he became a County Court Circuit Judge.

Appointed as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons by Douglas Hurd, Tumim soon made a reputation as a critic of the existing system. He campaigned successfully for an end to slopping out, and was also critical of the "enforced idleness" of prisoners, and poor mental health care. He served under successive Conservative Home Secretaries (not all of them sympathetic to his views), until Michael Howard declined to renew his contract in 1995, and David Ramsbotham was appointed. He was knighted soon afterwards, served on many charitable trusts, and continued to inspect prisons overseas. Between 1996 and 1998 he was principal of St. Edmund Hall, leaving amidst some controversy (he was popular with students, less so with academic colleagues). Tumin was awarded "Oldie Of The Year" award in 1994.

Tumim was on the committee and a buyer for the Contemporary Art Society.