A delegation of UK lawyers which visited Colombia last week to investigate the persecution and murder of human rights lawyers had permission to inspect the country’s overcrowded and violent prisons withdrawn.

Delegates from the Law Society, Bar Council and Institute of Legal Executives were part of a 56-strong caravana of international lawyers that visited Colombia between 23 and 28 August.

Divided into eight groups, they met human rights lawyers, prosecutors, judges, members of the security forces and political figures. The delegation had also expected to visit prisons in eight regions of the country, but this was vetoed by the Colombian government.

Sara Chandler, Law Society council member and president of the Human Rights Commission of the Federation of European Bar Associations, said she and other members of the delegation were told that a ‘national order’ had been issued prohibiting them from entering the prisons.

‘We are very concerned. Local lawyers and prisoners’ families report worsening conditions, with overcrowding, prisoners fighting for cell space and the weaker inmates sleeping in the corridors. It is even worse than it was in 2008 [when a previous international delegation visited the country],’ Chandler said.

Law Society council member Nigel Dodds said it was important for the delegation to complete its fact-finding mission, so that the government can obtain international assistance in its justice-building measures.

A spokesman for the Colombian embassy in London said: ‘Our understanding is that the caravana has been 99.9% perfect and that the delegates have met many lawyers and government officials. We believe there was only a minor problem with prison visits.’