Prison wing 'unfit for animals' closed down

Prison wing 'unfit for animals' closed down


· Damning report by health inspectors
· Prisoners had threatened high court action

"The justice secretary, Jack Straw, is believed to be considering emergency options for dealing with the overcrowding crisis, including an extension of the early release scheme for non-violent prisoners from 18 to 21 days, finding an English harbour willing to house a new prison ship, and reducing the qualifying period for parole from 50% to 40% for short and medium-sentence prisoners.

"He told the Prison Governors' Association's annual conference that he recognised the pressures the current prison population created, but was unable to offer any immediate relief".

Comment: I would have thought, after 10 years in power, that Labour would have come up with a policy that works. Rather than be still seeking emergency measures which only serve to lurch from crisis to crisis. Extending early release has to be a positive step. However, "finding an English harbour willing to house a new prison ship" has to be a backward step and totally unacceptable in 2007 to seek a return to the prison hulks.