Action for Prisoners' Families: Statement on today's penal policy paper by the Ministry of Justice

Jack Straw’s suggestion that children and families may be denied the right to visiting a relative in prison has been met with dismay by campaigners. The proposals, unveiled today as part of the Ministry of Justice ‘Prison Policy Update’, include looking at the possibility of prisoners not being allowed visits from families if they fail a drug test.

Curtailing visits is a retrograde step, and is likely to constitute both an infringement of basic rights to family life and the rights of children to have contact with their parents. Moreover, Governmet evidence shows that visits are essential not only to the prospects of an offender ‘going straight’ but also to the wellbeing of children - and ultimately to preventing further social exclusion.

Mr Straw’s announcement comes in the wake of the Government releasing figures about drugs that are being smuggled into prison (House of Commons, question 178358, 21/1/08). As Lucy Gampell, Director of Action for Prisoners’ Families, points out: ‘The figures just released to Parliament blow a hole in the Government’s assertion that most drugs come in to prison through prison visits. Family contact and visits are vital to supporting prisoners and reducing re-offending. Surely it is now time to review the over-bearing security and restrictions on movement during prison visits that are deterring so many families from visiting”.

The number of incidents where visitors are found to be in possession of drugs has decreased significantly in the last five years. Over the whole of the prison estate the number of drug related incidents involving visitors has declined from 831 in 2002-03 to 680 in 2006-07.

The proportion of drugs smuggled into prison by visitors (including children) is very small, under a fifth of all detected drugs. More drugs are thrown into prisons, over the perimeter fences (753 incidents in 2006-07), than are brought in by visitors. Surprisingly, staff related incidents are not recorded.

Invasive searches and the presence of drugs dogs can be frightening and humiliating, especially for children. Action for Prisoners’ Families believes these figures vindicate families and clearly show that the Prison Service needs to focus more attention on staff and other means of entry and stop using families as scapegoats.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

Action for Prisoners' Families is the national organisation representing the needs of prisoners' families

Together with CLINKS, the Prison Advice & Care Trust and the Prison Reform Trust, Action for Prisoners’ Families have unveiled a joint Agenda for Action, calling on the government to reduce re-offending by providing more support for the children and families of prisoners. Part of the Agenda is a request that the Government review the practice of restricting movement during social visits, to ensure that adequate opportunity is provided for prisoners to interact with their children, commensurate with safety and security.

For more information please visit www.prisonersfamilies.org.uk