So, about these new prisons…
Posted on Friday, February 16th, 2007 by Home Office WatchCategory: Prison
It’s becoming increasingly clear John Reid’s “plan” to build some new prisons is nothing of the sort. Today he tells us the project is “in the planning stages” so he doesn’t know how many cells will be built in each year, how much will be spent in each year, or really anything useful whatsoever.
The total cost estimate has gone up by £200m, though, since September when it was only going to cost us £1.5bn.
There are serious problems even with the two new prisons that Reid announced today - the Home Office still doesn’t have planning permission for the one in Woolwich, and even if everything does go to plan, the prisons will only deliver an extra 1300 places. Not much use when official estimates say the prison population could hit 102,000 by 2012.
What we really need is a wholesale rethink of the prison estate and the use of custody - and as luck would have it the Liberal Democrats have had a go already - you can read Nick Clegg’s proposals here.
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March 3rd, 2007 at 11:03 am
With a liking for many of the wise words and obvious political experience of the Lib Dem Leader, I would respectfully suggest that he is well worthy of mass support at this time.
With it the balance of power; a most favourable target could be secured at the next election, this victory would have more advantages that any new government with a narrow majority.
With even more respect I would ask,”Do any of our present Lib. Dem. members of parliament have the appetite and courage to tackle the crime problems of our country with a small selection of the laws and methods of Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County in the USA.
Most certainly his methods are successful, and they will ensure his re-election for some considerable time, but his medicine is obviously a bit too strong for our palletes just yet.
Interestingly though he has solved the prison shortage swiftly and economically, by not building the new prisons proposed at millions of dollars cost, but by creating new camps sites as training aids for prisoners pending early release.
Joe’s quotes, ” If tents are good enough for our troops in Irag,they are most certainly good enough for our criminals.”
And to the prisoners he said, “If you don’t like it in here, just don’t come back.”
April 25th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
Thank You