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Articles tagged with: prisons
HM chief inspector of prisons: 'If someone were to get a gun into a prison, all bets are off'
Home affairs
By Sienna Rodgers
HM chief inspector of prisons: 'If someone were to get a gun into a prison, all bets are off'
Speaking to Sienna Rodgers, HM chief inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor details the many failures he has seen across the prison estate, including the ‘existential risk’ presented by phones, drugs and weapons entering via drones
Inside the problems plaguing the prison estate
Communities
By Tali Fraser
Inside the problems plaguing the prison estate
Unable to innovate or even buy basic materials, and struggling to keep staff while operating antiquated systems, prison governors are trapped in a failing system, reports Tali Fraser
Michael Gove Says Keir Starmer Could Go 'Further' Than Tories Ever Did On Justice Reform
Home affairs
Michael Gove Says Keir Starmer Could Go "Further" Than Tories Ever Did On Justice Reform
Former Conservative secretary of state Michael Gove has said that Prime Minister Keir Starmer might be able to go "further than we ever did" on prison and justice reform.
The Probation Service is 'In Meltdown', Say Staff
Social affairs
The Probation Service is "In Meltdown", Say Staff
Every probation service in the UK is failing to meet minimum standards as the service buckles under the weight of record staff shortages and huge caseloads, an investigation by The House magazine has revealed.
Keir Starmer Warns Autumn Budget Will Be 'Painful'
Economy
Keir Starmer Warns Autumn Budget Will Be "Painful"
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said that the Autumn Budget will be "painful" as the country will have to "accept short term pain for long term good".
Prisoners To Be Released Early Under Government Plans To Tackle Prisons Capacity Crisis
Home affairs
Prisoners To Be Released Early Under Government Plans To Tackle Prisons Capacity Crisis
Some prisoners could be released early in measures announced by the Justice Secretary to avoid “the collapse of the criminal justice system”.
We should not send pregnant women to prison unless they have committed serious violent offences
Home affairs
By Sir Robert Neill MP
We should not send pregnant women to prison unless they have committed serious violent offences
Every year, a small number of pregnant women are sentenced to custody. Surprisingly it was only in 2021 that official figures on the number of pregnant women in prison were gathered and published.
Sentencing: Is Labour's prisons policy just a 'blank page'?
Home affairs
By Rob Merrick
Sentencing: Is Labour's prisons policy just a 'blank page'?
We are on course to imprison more than 100,000 people within the next three years but don’t have the space. Rob Merrick finds a troubling lack of answers about what comes next. Illustrations by Tracy Worrall
'Unprecedented' Rates Of Prison Building Still Failing To Keep Up With Rising Demand
Home affairs
"Unprecedented" Rates Of Prison Building Still Failing To Keep Up With Rising Demand
Prison capacity has been failing to meet rising demand and government policy has not been “joined up” despite an “unprecedented” level of prison building, according to the Minister for Prisons.
Government And Civil Service 'Harmony' Unlikely Despite New Pay Offer
Social affairs
Government And Civil Service "Harmony" Unlikely Despite New Pay Offer
General Secretary of the PCS union Mark Serwotka has said it is unlikely his union will be able to resolve its dispute with the government based on recent pay concessions, warning that industrial action could hit further key sectors in the coming months.
Prisons are a festering wound in our public services – they need urgent reform
Home affairs
By Lord Carlile
Prisons are a festering wound in our public services – they need urgent reform
I became an MP in June 1983 after practising criminal law for 12 years. Much of the parliamentary ambition I had was focused on the criminal justice system. I was troubled by the rising prison population and the increasingly ineffective role of prisons in reforming and improving the lives of young men and women to prepare them for leaving jail.
The long road to a trauma-informed criminal justice system
Home affairs
By Zoe Crowther
The long road to a trauma-informed criminal justice system
While both the Conservatives and Labour pursue a “tough on crime” rhetoric in their local election campaigns, in the background, Labour is working on a review on how to deliver the world’s first “trauma-informed criminal justice system” if it gets into government.
Former Prisons Chief Says MPs Are Politicising 'Tough On Crime' Rhetoric In Local Elections
Communities
Former Prisons Chief Says MPs Are Politicising "Tough On Crime" Rhetoric In Local Elections
The “tough on crime” rhetoric being pursued by the Conservatives and Labour in their local election campaigns is “political on both sides”, according to the former director of women at HM Prison and Probation Service.
Labour Review Plans For World-First 'Trauma-Informed' Criminal Justice System
Communities
Labour Review Plans For World-First "Trauma-Informed" Criminal Justice System
Labour is carrying out a review into how to create the world’s first “trauma-informed” criminal justice system, as the party also promises to be tough on crime and antisocial behaviour.
Top Stories: Government Considers Housing Asylum Seekers on Boats, New Bill Could Block Prison Releases
Home affairs
Top Stories: Government Considers Housing Asylum Seekers on Boats, New Bill Could Block Prison Releases
Government is set to confirm a range of new plans aimed at reducing the use of asylum seeker hotels, which could include use of accommodation on ships and in unused military bases.
Tribute to Lord Ramsbotham by Lord Howell
Obituaries
By Lord Howell
Tribute to Lord Ramsbotham by Lord Howell
Lord Ramsbotham, 6 November 1934 to 13 December 2022.
A former Commander-in-Chief of UK land forces who went on to become Her Majesty’s Inspector of Prisons.
Prisoners should be offered apprenticeships while incarcerated to help them gain skills for jobs upon release
Education
By Rob Halfon
Prisoners should be offered apprenticeships while incarcerated to help them gain skills for jobs upon release
It is little wonder that reoffending rates are so high in this country – at around 42 per cent – when the odds of finding a job are stacked against prison leavers.
It is high time we increased the minimum age of criminal responsibility
Home affairs
By Baroness Bennett
It is high time we increased the minimum age of criminal responsibility
We treat our young people appallingly, from schools forced to become exam factories to breath-taking rates of child poverty.
Dominic Raab Tells Businesses To Hire Ex-Offenders To Tackle Staff Shortages
Home affairs
Dominic Raab Tells Businesses To Hire Ex-Offenders To Tackle Staff Shortages
Businesses should “come and talk” to the justice department about hiring former prisoners to fill the current shortage of workers, Dominic Raab has said.
Smarter sentencing is not harsher sentencing
Home affairs
By Nina Champion, Dr. Laura Janes, Dr. Kate Paradine, Dr. Jonathan Bild
Smarter sentencing is not harsher sentencing
The Police, Crime and Sentencing Bill will see people convicted of more serious offences spending a lot longer in prison, but there is no evidence to support this. Instead, government should improve education and other rehabilitative opportunities in prisons.
Covid has highlighted how our prisons are stuck in the past
Home affairs
By Richard Garside
Covid has highlighted how our prisons are stuck in the past
Coming to terms with our overuse of imprisonment and charting a way to a lower-imprisonment future, could form part of a fitting legacy of the Covid-19 crisis.
Locked up in lockdown: the devastating effect of Covid on the prison population
Home affairs
By Adam Payne
Locked up in lockdown: the devastating effect of Covid on the prison population
Confined to their cells for 23 hours a day and curbs places on education and therapy sessions. The pandemic has taken its toll on prisoners and staff, and prompted renewed warnings that many of Britain’s jails are not fit for purpose.
Labour Calls For Urgent Action To Tackle 'Horrendous' Delays To Court Cases
Coronavirus
Labour Calls For Urgent Action To Tackle "Horrendous" Delays To Court Cases
Shadow Justice Secretary David Lammy has urged ministers to introduce temporary courts and cut the size of juries in order to tackle a growing backlog of unheard court cases. 
Continued mismanagement and outsourcing of our Prison Service has failed the taxpayer and prisoners
Home affairs
By Shabana Mahmood MP
Continued mismanagement and outsourcing of our Prison Service has failed the taxpayer and prisoners
Inadequate planning, unrealistic assumptions and poor performance have all resulted in a Prison Service which operates hand to mouth, rather than with a view to a long term strategy.