Jack Straw caught out lying yet again

Jack Straw caught out lying yet again

Prisons accused of transferring most difficult inmates to pass inspections

Wandsworth and Pentonville jails are accused of attempting to dupe inspectors

In a statement issued yesterday, Jack Straw, the justice secretary, declared it is "neither policy nor acceptable practice temporarily to move prisoners during inspections".

As I understand the issue the allegation relates to the temporary transfer of prisoners immediately prior to and following inspections and not during inspections, therefore Jack Straw's statement is meaningless! Furthermore, to my knowledge it has been both policy and acceptable practice since Circular Instruction 10/74 was issued in 1974. When I sought disclosure of CI 10/74 in the High Court, the Home Office attempted to circumvent this by amendment and introducing CI 37/90. Such temporary transfers were conducted on a Governor to Governor basis. The subsequent CI 28/93 removed this power and temporary transfers became centrally managed. The Prison Service hides behind what it euphemistically calls the Continuous Assessment Scheme.

It beggars belief that Jack Straw can feign ignorance given this reference in Hansard.

Closely related content...

How 'ghosting' threatens to plunge UK jails into fresh crisis

Staff at two London prisons may face charges of gross professional misconduct if reports reveal that problem inmates have been switched before inspections

UPDATE: As I was reading the above report I got a Déjà Vu feeling. When this was first reported I recall blogging a post on the subject here.