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A clean (jail) break?

Fri Jul 03 11:41AM

Cherie Booth's Commission on English Prisons Today has come riding to the rescue of England's fit-to-burst places of correction. A shame it's not clear whether the politicians are listening.

By Alex Stevenson

Yesterday's report is the result of two years' hard labour (pardon the pun. Sorry, pardon that pun too). It proposes a radical reduction in the number of prison places and the closure of several prison establishments, shifting the emphasis to local preventive measures.

Is this so radical? Its commissioners think not. "It's perfectly possible to have less crime, safer communities and fewer people in prison," chairman Professor David Wilson explained at today's report launch.

Accepting that's the case is actually quite easy to do. Crime levels have declined by 43 per cent, Ms Booth, claims, but prison numbers have shot up. Before the sudden rise in the prison population in 1993 there were only 42,000 inmates. Now we're close to double that level. Something's got to give.

For politicians acceptance is much harder, however. They are constantly under pressure to be harder, stricter, less compromising. That may be why today's report has tried to present a way out of this dead end.

"This is not a counsel of despair, this is a very positive report," Ms Booth told politics.co.uk. By spending public money "more wisely" the community can be made safer. "That's a win-win situation," she said.

Her upbeat approach offers a dramatic way out. If the choice is between continuing with business as usual and making a clean break, it's clear which presents a bolder option for policymakers.

This is why it may have been an error to duck out of providing any specific targets. The broad-brush approach, providing principles, was the result of a deliberate "tactical" ploy. Not all those present at the report approved, fearing it might undermine rather than enhance its effectiveness.

"There's a real danger in getting fixated with numbers," Ms Booth lamented, while Professor Ian Loader of Oxford University, a fellow commissioner, insisted a tactical mistake had yet to be made. "It's possible we might have done," he conceded.

A similar lack of specificity was present in the answer to the question from politics.co.uk, on the length of the "long-term" transition required.

"There are some things we could do pretty quickly," Ms Booth said. She is a woman in a hurry: "The question we have to deal with is happening now, and so the solution has to start happening now."

Prof Loader talked of the need for "political leadership" on these issues. Perhaps more experienced in the Westminster world herself, Ms Booth said a "political consensus" existed.

Was this a fair reflection of the commitment on show? Prisons minister Maria Eagle and her shadow counterpart, Edward Garnier, attended the report's launch. Their remarks were equally guarded, equally non-committal, demonstrating precisely the sort of equivocation not desired by Ms Booth and co.

Ms Eagle said the report was "very interesting". It would provoke "some lovely and ongoing discussions". Yes, minister. Her emphasis was especially telling. "We do have to have enough prison places for those people sent into custody," she said, at her most firmest. At least the commissioners can be encouraged she had made time in her "ridiculous diary" for the report launch.

Mr Garner was politer, but equally cautious. He said the report "makes some entirely worthwhile... recommendations".

"This is a document that should be open on every policymaker's desk, and not left on the shelf," he beamed. Take it or leave it.

Ms Booth, smiling courteously as they delivered their somewhat meaningless platitudes, knows that something must be done.

It must be the politicians who do it; there's only so much the wife of a former prime minister can do. But at least a radical solution is now on the table.

Comments31 - 40 of 236

We need MORE prisons - if you break the law you should be locked up for the time the Judge states without this hideous time off for good behavior. In addition the prisoners should be made to undertake UNPAID hard labour. WHY is it that prison is now a soft option. Offenders should be made to pay the pain that victims suffer!

From howardcwhite on Fri Jul 03 02:09PM
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I see - another crazy idea by Booth. Just like "Care in the Community" by Margaret Thatcher. Now most of them live in my block!!!! And there is no care in the community as people are too busy to keep an eye on people who are not well. When I pointed out to my Housing Association that the new tenant below me was freaking out, angry and saying weird stuff, he said why don't you phone Social Services - trying to pass the buck!!!! So I said sorry no. I am working on another project which I was to get the noisy neigbours to stop making noise. So nothing was done about her. So yes, don't put people in prison. Just let them out on the streets, and let them just commit mores crimes as they know they won't be sent to prison. A perfect answer, Cherie Boot. And as the first person said on this blog. We should put her and her husband in jail for jail. Mayeb 50 years for each of them! Then they might learn a thing or two. .

From sanddhi on Fri Jul 03 02:31PM
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I agree deport for no matter what crime they have committed, immigrants! Take away all luxuries, yes prisoners are sent to prison as punishment and not there to be punished, however if they can have luxuries etc then they are as well not being in prison. give longer sentences if they received life, then they get life. we should be looking at how the american prison system works and apply it here. most prisoners there even for armed robbery and attempted murder, never see life on the outside again!!! e.g rape can be a minimum of 20 years. While in prison get them to work and do constructive things that will help the economy, and helping pay back something to the community and government and people who pay to keep them in there!!!

From riahorne on Fri Jul 03 02:46PM
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Since Labour are so hell-bent on placing innocent people in jail and letting the yobs walk scot-free, why not we just go sleep in the prisons and let the yobs be done with it.
For that matter, since when have politicians ever listened to anybody, much less a woman???
Cherie Booth has no fardling chance.

From roy_movrich on Fri Jul 03 03:00PM
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Agree with alanseymour35 on Fri Jul 03 12:02PM.
What more is there to say what he or she said makes sense...It’s crazy to put people in prison for debt... And as for Mr Biggs he should be freed...
the reasons they put poor people in prison is a reminder to the rest of us peasants that if we don't pay out taxes you will go to prison,, while the s.o.b. MP go free..
It’s about that time for a revolution now having said this I will end up in prison myself ahahha for incitement to create a war against the sovereign/ government.. Power to the people

From raymondlangleyuk on Fri Jul 03 03:01PM
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I work in a prison and trust me there is no gourmet food or internet access for prisoners, and I agree with an earlier comment that if there was more outside when prisoners were released then there would not be the elastic band effect,one last thing what about the people with mental health issues that are locked up,unfortunately prisons have now become mental health institutions without the properly trained staff to help, this is due to closure of secure homes and units.
for all those that think prison is an easy life try working in one before you pass comments and you too can face the threats of violence and abuse often on a daily basis.

From lindagittings on Fri Jul 03 03:14PM
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Why not bring back a cheap and simple punishment; the stocks. A couple of days of humiliation for minor offences might deter potential offenders. The rattan is another cheap and efficient deterent. For those who do go to prison make it so unpleasant, they will not wish to return.No cries of 'human rights', they forfeited whatever those are with their criminal activity. The wimps and do gooders have done away with chastisement and firm discipline, so that very few seem to know the meaning of the word No.

From tnygriffith on Fri Jul 03 03:19PM
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I would just like to assure Raymond Langley that calling for a revolution on this site is not an offence, do it at Speakers Corner in Hyde Park and you could be arrested, for incitement!

From alanseymour35 on Fri Jul 03 03:23PM
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#40,
Well said agree wholeheartedly. Why is it legal forcing innoccent non smokers/non drinkers to smoke passively? Could they not build some clean fresh prisons, strictly for us passive smokers, or simply ban smoking by all prisoners?
It would be a great improvement for everyone's health, saving the NHS so many billions, long term.
Strip search all personnel when they arrive to commence a shift, the smack & crack supply would soon dry up.

From aitchbill2 on Fri Jul 03 03:44PM
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Bring back capital punishment!

From johnfeltwell on Fri Jul 03 04:15PM
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