Tories announce flagship prison policy - bring back the prison hulks

Tories announce flagship prison policy - bring back the prison hulks

A prison ship could be reintroduced under the Conservatives.



The plans would enable David Cameron to make good his pledge to find extra prison places.

There will be a need for extra capacity in view of tougher and more “honest” sentencing plans the Conservatives intend to introduce. Under a new Conservative government judges will spell out the minimum and maximum time prisoners can be expected to serve.

Mr Cameron has also promised to abolish the early release scheme, which will have knock-on effects for the prison population. The Conservative leader has vowed to reduce overcrowding and formally end it by 2016.

So, the Tories intend to reduce prison overcrowding by making the situation worse? That is, by increasing the prison population.

Honest and Conservatives do not, in my view, go together.

Judges already spell out the minimum and maximum time a prisoner should serve. Ending early release schemes will only increase overcrowding and give prisoners no incentive to behave in custody to earn early release.