Jail crisis may force release of ‘harmful’ prisoners
High-risk offenders could be released from prison as the government struggles to cope with the prison overcrowding crisis. Justice secretary Jack Straw told MPs last night the prison service would have to consider releasing prisoners on indeterminate public protection (IPP) sentences once they had served their minimum tariff. IPP sentences are handed to prisoners convicted […]
Prison population reaches new record high
The prison population has reached a new record high, despite the government attempting to ease prison overcrowding by releasing some offenders early. The Ministry of Justice confirms the prison population has reached a record 81,135. With a total prison capacity of 81,915, it does not appear that the prisoner early release scheme, announced in June, […]
Prison deaths ‘avoidable’
The Prison Service is failing to avoid preventable deaths in custody, it was reported today. The Forum for Preventing Deaths in Custody said around 600 people a year died in custody and many of these deaths could and should have been prevented. Although some inmates die through natural causes, many deaths follow apparent suicide attempts […]
Ministers remain firm on prison officer pay
Ministers have insisted there can be no more money for prison officers, despite this week’s wildcat strike by more than 20,000 officers. The Prison Officers’ Association (POA) has now formally put its concerns to the justice secretary Jack Straw. Both sides say the talks were “constructive” but the government shows no signs of acquiescing to […]
Prisoner early release was ‘brief respite’
The government’s policy to release offenders early has failed to ease prison overcrowding, figures suggest. With prisons near capacity, the government announced in June that non-violent offenders could be released 18 days before the end of their sentence. Intended to release the pressure on the prison system, The Prince Reform Trust (PRT) concluded today that […]
Policy failings blamed for Campsfield escape
The government has been urged to review its policy of housing failed asylum seekers with foreign prisoners in the wake of the latest immigration mishap. Some 26 asylum seekers escaped from Campsfield House Immigration Detention Centre near Oxford on Saturday after starting a fire to distract staff. Fourteen of the inmates are still on the […]
PM defends prisoner early release
Gordon Brown repeatedly defended the prisoner early release scheme today amid accusations from the Conservatives that violent offenders have been released early. The prime minister insisted no prisoner serving a sentence for a serious violent crime had been released early. The government set down 15 conditions for early release, Mr Brown reminded his opponent, and […]
Straw: More prison cells are not the answer
Justice secretary Jack Straw has called for a national conversation about the use of prison, after warning it will not be possible to build a way out of the prison crisis. In an interview with the Times, Mr Straw said the prison service needed to consider sending fewer people to jail and instead increase the […]
Prisoner early release begins
Up to 1,200 criminals will be released early today to relieve the overcrowded prison system. The former lord chancellor Lord Falconer conceded earlier this month that the government would have to cut short some offenders’ sentences after the prison population reached a record 81,000. His successor Jack Straw confirmed today the scheme would continue for […]
First task for MoJ as prisons reach record high
There are fewer than 350 prison places available in England and Wales, including spaces made available in prison cells. The prison population has reached a record high of 80,812, having risen by 154 since last week. Taking into account the 400 police cells created by Operation Safeguard, there are 320 prison places remaining. Operation Safeguard […]
