Labour's early prisoner release programme and why it's (still) a terrible idea

[musicalfrog]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0ejwedl1gno

The family of PC Andrew Harper have rightly come out today to criticise this policy. My heart breaks for them - it really is the biggest insult.

If prisons are getting too full then build new ones - why this wasn't initiated two years ago when it was already a big problem I have no idea.

The police and CPS have gone to a lot of time and effort to get these convictions - and that ain't exactly cheap! A good number of these criminals will re-offend upon release and the process starts again - sooner than it would have if they'd served their full sentence. Not exactly saving much time and money there.

Plus the blindingly obvious fact that a larger general population will naturally bring with it a larger prison population.

You let criminals out early, the general population suffers more, you put the police and CPS under additional pressure, nobody wins except the criminals who think they have even less to fear from the process than ever before.

What exactly are Labour trying to achieve here because I can't see it?

Build the bloody prisons!

I agree with the overall premise of your comment but it's nowhere near as simple as you make out.

Well I know that but I'd like them to at least show an iota of a half decent plan because clearly this is not a great plan.

Well, a half decent plan starts with a commitment to investment, financial and otherwise, into the criminal justice system. Unfortunately, this isn't a vote winner and most people don't want to spend one extra penny on this type of thing.

I could support early release with electronic tags for non-violent prisoners - but not rape, murder, manslaughter, terrorism, violence against emergency workers (I thought they were supposed to be getting more protections) or high level drug dealing.

If the killers of PC Harper are released early - and they are killers, they knew he was caught at the back of the truck - I would understand every single Thames Valley officer resigning in disgust.

We need a govt with a backbone, that actually seeks to protect the public.

Not a vote winner? In whose world?

I'd certainly support it.

I've seen plenty of much more obvious non vote winning ideas from this govt in the last two years but they've not touched on this yet - why don't they give it a try?

See my earlier reply! In addition, we have a punitive hungry society and prison needs to have a significantly improved rehabilitative element if it is to function properly.

So @Lemonfrost why aren't Labour doing all of the above? They have a huge majority, what's stopping them?

I can't think of any government in recent years who has had a bigger chance to make a positive change.

Or do you agree with their current plan and think they should stick with that?

House arrest for lower level prisoners to free up space. Killers.. death penalty … or at least stay in prison.

@musicalfrog I have no idea - I am not part of, nor did I vote for, Labour. To answer your later question, I am completely against early release.

I just want to see that they understand there is another way, and that only they can change things.

This is a decade-before-results issue and you should be angrier at the Tories who a) caused it and b) left it for the next lot to fix. Two years is nothing if things are already in a state

And? That's been and gone. Can't go back, can we?

I agree btw, why didn't they?

Labour's chance is NOW. Why the flip aren't they getting the ball rolling for the sake of the country?

Or shall we just moan about them in 10 years when the problem is even worse? Is that YOUR preferred plan?

Tbh I feel the same way about the training of British doctors and nurses. We have a generation of kids without purpose, and bringing in talent from overseas because r don't have enough home grown talent, but nobody in govt even suggests a recruitment/ training programme.

It honestly makes my head hurt.

@musicalfrog it seems we don't have anyone who is prepared to address our problems properly

This is just one of them, a massive one and one that goes across many different administrations

I agree that it's the government who are in place now who have the chance to sort things - we can go back quite a way and they just never do

I can see that the system is collapsing. I can see that we cannot build prisons and all the things we need for prison places in a short period of time

However, I do not think this is the answer. And if anyone was going to have their sentence shortened, or if anyone is not going to be in prison in the first place, it seems extremely that those should be those who have committed nonviolent crimes.

Honestly, it makes my head hurt when I stop and think about how successive government do not give a shit about this country

I wish I knew what to say, but I just don't. We don't have anyone to vote for who actually cares.

The fact is the prison service hasn't enough space to accommodate all those sentenced. That's happened becuase governments of all stripes back as far as Blair wanted more crimes to give longer gaol time without willing the means for space.

Either you let them out early as proposed or you let more lesser offenders out even sooner.

Your call @musicalfrog

It's really not my call @Bromptotoo I don't run the country.

They are building plenty of new homes to obliterate the countryside. It's about time other things caught up too.

If you say What exactly are Labour trying to achieve here because I can't see it? It's not unreasonable to ask what you'd do.

If shovels went in the ground tonight for the prison capacity we need cells wouldn't be ready for occupation for the best part of two years.

They donated millions to Pakistan for contraception and family planning but are letting UK prisoners out early as the prisons are full. Is it any wonder people want to get Labour/Conservatives out and and Reform in.

They have extended prisons creating nearly 3000 places and a new prison is being built. It can't be done overnight

If you read my OP and subsequent posts you'll see my opinion.

They need to start building. If it's ready in two years great, that's better than 3 or 4.

I've not seen that anywhere. Link?

I heard a minister being interviewed so I don't have a link. Maybe Google would bring it up.

Exactly.

If you want facts rather than what you’ve read in the right wing press, have a read https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prison-building-boom-to-make-streets-safer

They've done more in two years than the Tory’s did in 14. Burnham has said he’s going to review the early release policy so good for him.

Once complete, they will add to the 2,900 places already delivered since July 2024

From the link above incase anyone can’t be bothered to read the whole thing.

To be fair that’s pretty canny when you think about the long term implications.
I really think we could more quickly repurpose military accommodation for low security prisons, as it has many security measures already. Unfortunately it’s being earmarked for something else.

I hadn't read any 'right wing press' but I would have thought the BBC would mention it in the above news item as it seems very relevant.

It's good news but I think they should still aim a little higher. It's a start though.