UCU: Operation Safeguard will increase re-offending, say prison educators
Wednesday, 11, Oct 2006 12:00
Teachers who provide education and training for prisoners today warned that transferring offenders from prisons to police cells or inadequate detention centres will increase reoffending rates.
The warning came on the eve of the start of 'Operation Safeguard' - Home Secretary John Reid's attempt to ease prison overcrowding by transferring some offenders to emergency accommodation.
The University and College Union (UCU) represents prison educators throughout England and Wales.
UCU national official for prison educators, Christiane Ohsan said:
'Prisoners transferred to police cells will not be receiving any education or training. And the frequent transfer of prisoners between institutions can set back to square one their attempts to pursue education. Prisoners who don't receive education are three times more likely to be reconvicted than those that do, so these emergency measures are going to raise reoffending rates.
'The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Phillips, is right to say that overcrowded jails are preventing rehabilitation. It is essential that prisoners can receive education and training for release and possible employment. The failure to adequately provide this is a cause of crime which the government is certainly not being tough on.
'Operation Safeguard' is just more crisis management and won't solve overcrowding but what we actually need is a joined-up plan for criminal justice, prisoner education and rehabilitation.'
ENDS
Notes for Editors
Prisoners who do not take part in education are three times more likely to be reconvicted than those that do’. Source: House of Commons education and skill committee report, March 2005. ‘The link to recidivism’ para 23 page 14: http://www.fpe.org.uk/filestore/ESC_PrisonEducation_Report.pdf;
Prison Educators were described as 'unsung heroes' in evidence in the Education and Skills select committee’s report on the prison education system, published 31 March 2005.
For further information: UCU press officer, Trevor Phillips 0207 520 1032 or 07773 796882