Friday, April 24, 2009
Prisons and Europe
Prisons alas are likely to be in the political news over the next decade. So good news that the Government is apparently NOT going ahead with plans for three 2500-place Titan prisons.
The experience of the French (who built a 3600-place prison) suggest this is the right decision – according to HM Inspector of Prisons Ann Owers the verdict of French Ministry of Justice on such super-prisons is very clear – 'Never Again'.
However the Government still seems committed to spending something like £2.3 thousand million on 10,000 extra prison places with five new Prisons on the stocks – and at 1500 places per prison these are still pretty massive developments. It seems that CCTV will be an important part of ‘cost-saving’ in running such prisons, despite the fact that personal contact between prisoners and staff is a vital part of any genuine rehabilitation process.
This discussion in the Quaker news-sheet ‘Around Europe’ summarises a number of important aspects of the debate.
It concludes:
By the way, can I recommend ‘Around Europe’ as a general information source for LibDems? Have a look at the matters dealt with in the archives from the links on this page. For example the December 2008 issue looked at Women’s health and imprisonment in Europe.
And if you want to keep an eye on the questions some concerned citizens might put to our EuroCandidates, have a look at the QCEA Euro-Election page.
The experience of the French (who built a 3600-place prison) suggest this is the right decision – according to HM Inspector of Prisons Ann Owers the verdict of French Ministry of Justice on such super-prisons is very clear – 'Never Again'.
However the Government still seems committed to spending something like £2.3 thousand million on 10,000 extra prison places with five new Prisons on the stocks – and at 1500 places per prison these are still pretty massive developments. It seems that CCTV will be an important part of ‘cost-saving’ in running such prisons, despite the fact that personal contact between prisoners and staff is a vital part of any genuine rehabilitation process.
This discussion in the Quaker news-sheet ‘Around Europe’ summarises a number of important aspects of the debate.
It concludes:
In July 2007, shortly after becoming Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor, Jack Straw himself admitted that ‘the government would not be able to build its way out of the prisons’ crisis’.
Why then are these prisons being built? Why are the predictions of increases in future prison
populations being treated as a definite rather than as an opportunity to heed a warning, take action and develop new strategies for dealing with offenders? The current strategy of prison expansion is no strategy at all, rather a gigantic mistake.
By the way, can I recommend ‘Around Europe’ as a general information source for LibDems? Have a look at the matters dealt with in the archives from the links on this page. For example the December 2008 issue looked at Women’s health and imprisonment in Europe.
And if you want to keep an eye on the questions some concerned citizens might put to our EuroCandidates, have a look at the QCEA Euro-Election page.
Labels: euro elections, prisons
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Saturday, July 12, 2008
Intimate scrutiny
I am not entirely sure I wanted to read about the BOSS chair technology over breakfast but there we are. Now I pass the mental image over to you.
Does illustrate the problem of modern information tools and how basic security concepts cannot always be upheld by traditional methods. Less dramatic perhaps than the debate on civil liberties and detention without trial or even the ID Cards debate..
The problem of course is the use of illicit mobile phones in prisons, BOSS is the Bodily Orifice Security Scanner and your imagination is recruited to grasp how mobile phones are entering prisons via other entries. It was piloted in the UK at HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes.
Friends of mine who have been Guests Of Her Majesty say that the main think stopping prisoners just walking out of most establishments is the inability of prisoners to organise split second co-ordinated action across the prison. So, obviously, preventing mobile communications in the slammer has more than an anti-contraband role to play.
But I can’t quite put my finger (gloved or otherwise) on why this story makes me feel a little queasy.
Does illustrate the problem of modern information tools and how basic security concepts cannot always be upheld by traditional methods. Less dramatic perhaps than the debate on civil liberties and detention without trial or even the ID Cards debate..
The problem of course is the use of illicit mobile phones in prisons, BOSS is the Bodily Orifice Security Scanner and your imagination is recruited to grasp how mobile phones are entering prisons via other entries. It was piloted in the UK at HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes.
Friends of mine who have been Guests Of Her Majesty say that the main think stopping prisoners just walking out of most establishments is the inability of prisoners to organise split second co-ordinated action across the prison. So, obviously, preventing mobile communications in the slammer has more than an anti-contraband role to play.
But I can’t quite put my finger (gloved or otherwise) on why this story makes me feel a little queasy.
Labels: mobile phones, prisons, security
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Thursday, June 28, 2007
First sight of Tory response on Brown
Rescued from some doormats as a side-effect of Good Morning delivery in a council by-election today... a Tory 'Good Morning' (they are learning, please note) enclosing a second Tory offering. A very glossy and expensive looking card saying
Attacking Labour for being soft on crime and bungling prisons policy. This looks like a nationally produced effort so watch out for it at other by-elections.
By the way, this by-election is also plagued by the 'England First Party' campaigning against the LibDem council's policy of providing language interpreters where required and moaning about the number of languages spoken in local schools.
"Brown in, Prisoners Out"
Attacking Labour for being soft on crime and bungling prisons policy. This looks like a nationally produced effort so watch out for it at other by-elections.
By the way, this by-election is also plagued by the 'England First Party' campaigning against the LibDem council's policy of providing language interpreters where required and moaning about the number of languages spoken in local schools.
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