What's wrong with Tony Blair's prison figures?

When I worked at the Conservative Research Department I used to help respond to Government claims. And I reached the conclusion that whenever it announced an apparently impressive figure, I mean whenever, there was always something wrong with it.

So when I heard Tony Blair claim at Prime Minister's Questions that he was building 8,000 more prison places I knew that all I had to was Google the claim and I'd find out what was wrong with it.

And, sure enough, I found this.

Comments

[dr venables preller]

A rethink of the function of a prison system, which includes deterrence and protection of the public, might need to consider the case for treating repeat offenders of serious crimes in a different way.

‘Three strikes and you’re out’ seems a fair entry qualifier for a regime, which in the case of those posing the greatest threat, might use an offshore behavioural modification facility, using know-how gained from an establishment maintained by the US army in Cuba. Apparently, incessant pop-style music with advert-style jingles, slogans and sound bites of an uplifting nature alone can do the trick. For others, whose continued activities in a gang context could ultimately polarise communities into gated and no-go areas, the lesson of actually observing a war-lord type governance scenario could be helpful.

With the average cost of £23,000 p.a. of each inmate diverting funds from more worthwhile causes, such as education, there is a good case for outsourcing some establishments to countries with low costs. Places such as Somalia, Sierra Leone and Congo have a young workforce with militia experience, who could easily turn their skills to a role as prison officer. Assisting with rebuilding the country infrastructure could be a worthwhile alternative to stitching mailbags, and the payments to the host country for oroviding facilities would be an alternative to aid. The concept of prison as a ‘university of crime’ might seem less attractive in the context of a developing country.

[Alex R]

A bigger problem exists with the crime figures and how we view them. While we do have the highest per capita prison population in Europe, we also have the lowest prison population per crime.

What does this mean? Well, that most criminals can commit crime with the certain knowledge that (a) the crime they commit is highly unlikely to be investigated (e.g. motor crime) (b) if it is investigated, they are highly unlikely to get caught (e.g. burglary) and, (c), even if they are caught, they are highly unlikely to get a custodial sentence (e.g. increasing use of on-the-spot £80 fines).

All this, culminates to destroy prison as any kind of deterrent. Reid's announce today will only make the situation worse.

What's wrong with Tony Blair's prison figures? They don't add up. That's old news. And so is your link, it relates to a piece dated 23 July 2006.

The not fit for purpose John Reid has reopened not fit for purpose prison wings which have been ruled unfit for human habitation. Under the Prison Act 1952 such accommodation is required to be signed as fit for human inhabitation by an Area Manager.

This might be a good time to remind John Reid that even the Home Secretary is not a law unto himself and is required, as are the staff under him, to obey the laws of England. He owes a duty of care towards prisoners to ensure that their legal and human rights are not infringed. If he fails to heed this warning, it could well prove very expensive for the taxpayers if prisoners sue for compensation in the courts.

No doubt by now John Reid will have heard about Scotland's supreme civil court declaration that the blanket ban on convicted prisoners voting was incompatible with their human rights. This means that they will not be able to vote in the May elections. If the prisoners fail to prevent the election taking place, they will be entitled to claim damages.

What's good for the Scots is good for England. This is not a good time to be upsetting society not at large. They have been excluded from the political process for too long. Prisoners are now firmly on the political agenda. This is not a time for Lord Falconer's consultation exercise on whether prisoners should have the vote. This is the time for Parliament to debate the issue and pass the necessary legislation to implement the franchise.

Perhaps, John Reid or the soon to be Minister of Justice, will stop looking for quick fixes and come up with long term solutions which should take into account the prisoners voice in any deliberations.

[John Hirst]

I forgot to add my name to the above graffiti.

[James Kennett]

If it's really true that a new prison place costs £600,000, and a prison sentence costs £460 per week, then there are certain crimes that could be dealt with much more economically.

For example, how many people are in prison for non-payment of fines, Council Tax etc? £460 per week could pay for the administrative attention needed to extract the money from the person's earnings or benefits, evict them from the dwelling for which Council Tax is unpaid, confiscate and sell or crush their car, and so on.