The Top Articles on Prison Officers and their Prisons

SIR – That the prison population is excessive is an understatement. But Ken Clarke, the Secretary of State for Justice, must carry much of the blame.

I refer to the massive, continuing burden placed on prisons by mental illness. In the late 1980s Mr Clarke was Secretary of State for Health and began the closing down of mental hospitals – about 47,000 mental-illness beds across England and Wales – replaced by the failed "Community Care" programme and a rump NHS bed provision.

I suppose Mr Clarke didn't expect the results of his decisions to return 25 years later and bite him.

As both a mental hospital nursing officer in the NHS and the north-western regional chairman of the then mental health staff trade union CoHSE at the time, I know he was loudly advised of his folly.

Ken Orme

Liverpool

SIR – Roma Hooper of Make Justice Work (Letters, July 1) misses the point. Most short custodial sentences are given because the offender has repeatedly refused to comply with community penalties.

Advocates of the removal of short sentences never say what should happen if those sentenced to a community order repeatedly refuse to complete it, or do complete it but continue to reoffend

If rehabilitation cannot be accomplished by giving such offenders short custodial sentences, then the sentence should be increased so that rehabilitation can be achieved.

Mike Baker JP

Wigan, Lancashire

SIR – Douglas Payne (Letters, July 1) is wrong in advocating a "dramatic increase in fines". The present level is quite enough to deter most misdemeanours, while the persistent perpetrators have no money and invariably default on their fines and other orders placed upon them.

This does nothing but create piles of work for the already overstretched authorities. For these miscreants another form of punishment needs to be applied.

Lance Warrington

Northleach, Gloucestershire

SIR – Let me get this right. The party of law and order is intending to release more offenders on to the streets, while reducing the number of policemen available to catch them?

Ken Clarke has wasted no time in drinking deeply at the trough of received Home Office wisdom if he really believes that the resulting tide of criminal flotsam can, by any means, be rigorously supervised.

Rehabilitation has a place, but one of the great virtues of the much derided Victorian prison system was that former inmates were extremely keen to avoid repeating the experience.

Alan Duncalf

Bampton, Devon

Clare Spencer | Thursday, 1 July 2010

Commentators discuss Justice Secretary Ken Clarke's proposal to change the prison system.

Jonathan Aitken says in the Times that prison works and that he welcomes Ken Clarke's changes, but urges rehabilitation:

"During my seven months in jail I learnt a great deal about the thoughts and motivations of prisoners. Going to jail is not seen as a particular problem - for many youngsters it is part of the pattern of estate life.

"But while they don't fear jail, they do relish the chance to go straight. This is the crucial characteristic recognised in Ken Clarke's bold new strategy for reducing reoffending. Throughout my sentence I spent two to three hours a day reading and writing letters for fellow inmates who struggled with literacy and communication problems - an experience that leads me to be highly supportive of the Justice Secretary's new approach. It is rooted in the practical 'rehabilitation revolution' promised in opposition policy statements.

"It makes good sense at the sharp end in terms of preventing crime and from the Treasury's perspective of cutting public spending. But delivering the strategy will require from ministers a remorseless attention to detail and a continuous exercise of political will to overcome the many obstacles."

Mike Pinblatt who is a prison officer at Risely prison in Cheshire told Shelagh Fogarty on the BBC Radio 5 live Breakfast phone-in that the proposal to divert funding to voluntary organisations is fundamentally flawed:

"These prisoners have already been through these voluntary organisations and probation orders and community service orders and they've failed

And prison is usually the last resort, so why do we throw money at these voluntary organisations when they've failed already?"

Stephen Glover argues in the Daily Mail that Mr Clarke's suggestion that prison is a costly and ineffective way of dealing with criminals wasn't mentioned in the election campaign:

"Though it speaks of the importance of rehabilitating ex-prisoners (and which decent person wouldn't be in favour of that?).

"It does not suggest that putting criminals in prison is wrong. On the contrary, it criticises 'early release' practised by the Labour Government to ease pressure on prisons, and promises that, if elected, the Tories would 'redevelop the prison estate and increase capacity as necessary'.

"I presume Mr Clarke did not read his party's manifesto on which he fought the election, just as he once admitted - to his shame - that he had not read the 1992 Maastricht Treaty which created the European Union and paved the way for the euro."

Danny Kruger says in the Financial Times that "suddenly the age of austerity is looking like the age of enlightenment":

"We might have expected a belt-tightening Tory-led government to get back to basics, scrapping innovation in favour of the core functions of the state. But the search for savings is prompting a reappraisal of how the state works, and no cows are sacred...

"Previous governments' failure to reform prisons is apparent in the atmosphere inside them. Walk through a prison in England at almost any time of day or night and what will you see? Not a lot. For most of the 24 hours, from teatime till breakfast and over lunch, prisoners are banged up in their cells: lying on their beds, watching telly, hatching plans to buy or sell this or that the next moment they see each other.

"The main thing to fear from jail is boredom and the sense of wasting time. The majority of prolific criminals, the ones who commit most of the crime, live lives of such chaos and danger that boredom is actually attractive - "going for a lie-down", they call it when they get sent to jail - and they feel their lives are wasted anyway. They are searching for containment, and for safety; for crack addicts, perhaps just somewhere they can get clean.

"This is not to say we shouldn't send serious criminals into custody. But we urgently need to make prisons places of activity and hard work, re-programming offenders to think and act differently next time they're out."

Letters: Perspectives on prison reform
What do the Tories believe?

At the election the Tories displayed posters saying Gordon Brown let out 200,000 criminals from jail early, thus putting the public in danger. Now we are told that Labour doubled the number of people in prison and that most would be better handled outside prison in the community.

If the Tories believe their advert, can't they be truthful and say finances are so bad that they are going to let a huge number of dangerous offenders run amok amongst us? Or is it time to own up that they lied to be elected and the truth is that the bulk of convicted criminals are actually best served by being given community service, training and jobs.

Andrew Pring, Gillingham, Dorset

Futile war

Surely an obvious way for the Government to save money (and make more of it at the same time) is to abandon the eternally pointless "war on drugs" and tax their legitimised sale, as is done with alcohol and tobacco.

Trevor Roberts, Bramford, Suffolk

Early intervention

Perhaps what should be addressed is the family background of those in prison. It is a fact that many have no families and others are illiterate. Should not more money go into making sure children do not leave school before they can read and write?

Maureen Maddock, York

College of crime

Kenneth Clarke's insight into penal reform, pointing out that prison is more costly than Eton, is most welcome. The obvious answer is to send all prisoners to Eton. As well as the cost saving, enhanced uniform, the upgrading of criminal patois with Latin and providing useful rugby skills, it could extend the social base and life experience of future governments.

Stephen Wakeford, Deal, Kent

2nd July 2010 | Independent Letters

Prison reform plans criticised by Michael Howard
30 June 2010 | BBC NEWS

Former Conservative Home Secretary Michael Howard has said he was "not convinced" by the government's plans to send fewer criminals to prison.

Justice Secretary Ken Clarke revealed plans for a radical reformation of the prison service with a new emphasis on community sentences and rehabilitation.

He said locking people up for the sake of it was a waste of public funds.

But Mr Howard told BBC Radio 4's PM programme that serious and persistent criminals needed to be jailed.

Mr Clarke unveiled the new measures during his first major speech since taking office.

Mr Clarke said prison had too often proved "a costly and ineffectual approach that fails to turn criminals into law-abiding citizens".

Speaking in London he said: "More than half of the crime in this country is committed by people who have been through the system. We must now take action and shut off this revolving door of crime and reoffending.

The plans will involve paying private firms and voluntary groups according to how many prisoners they rehabilitate.

Mr Clarke added: "We need a more constructive approach that tackles this head-on. An intelligent and transparent approach to sentencing that targets the causes of reoffending, so making our communities safer and better places to live.

"We describe it as a rehabilitation revolution."

Mr Howard, who was home secretary from 1993 to 1997, said he stood by his famous "prisons work" speech given to the 1993 Conservative Party conference.

'Serious concerns' about staff homophobia at Dartmoor prison
By Jessica Geen • July 1, 2010 - 14:13

An inspection of HMP Dartmoor has raised serious concerns about "overt" homophobia amongst the prison's staff.

According to the report, published today, gay prisoners told inspectors that staff referred to them as "girls" or "ladies" and one was handed a gay magazine in a brown paper bag because a prison officer said he did not want to touch it.

Although no formal complaints had been made by gay prisoners, the report said inspectors heard "consistent" accounts of "overtly homophobic" views and attitudes from some staff.

A survey of inmates found four per cent regarded themselves as gay or bisexual, which equated to roughly 23 of the 587 adult men held at the category C institution..

The report also found worrying staff attitudes to other minority groups, including accounts of prison officers refusing to push wheelchairs.

It said that there was a "significant group of staff who had no interest in assisting prisoners, and were said to be uncaring and, in some cases, obstructive and rude".

The report continued: "Prisoners gave many anecdotes and examples of unprofessional, and even delinquent, behaviour by staff.

"They said such staff were dismissive and disrespectful, and gave examples of inappropriate language used over the public address system, homophobic behaviour, a determination not to use preferred names or titles, and an unpreparedness to push prisoners in wheelchairs."

The report added that one positive development was the creation of a gay and bisexual prisoner representative, while the prison had made contact with a local gay group in order to plan staff training on the issue.

Dartmoor was the subject of an "extremely critical" inspection report in 2002 and a follow-up inspection in 2008 found little progress.

Scotland

Published: 01 Jul 2010 Add a comment (3)
KNIFE thugs, yobs and thieves will stay out of jail after prison sentences under three months were virtually outlawed by MSPs yesterday.
The SNP and Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill pushed through the soft-touch policy after a narrow vote at Holyrood.

Short-term imprisonment will now be replaced with supposedly "tough" community service as part of a raft of changes to the Criminal Justice Act.

The Scottish Government also sparked outrage by REJECTING a call for a mandatory six-month jail term handed to anyone caught with a blade.

Furious Labour and Tory politicians slammed the SNP and Lib Dems for voting for the soft-touch sentences.

Scots Labour leader Iain Gray said: "This move by the SNP and Lib Dems is reckless and dangerous and will mean 7,000 criminals, including knife criminals, muggers, housebreakers and even sex offenders will avoid prison.

"They are not acting in the public interest and are letting down victims. Scotland will remember their actions."

Wormwood Scrubs showed the reality of prison life
ITV's compelling documentary highlighted the frailty of those in prison and the system that fails them
18 MAY 2010

People in the UK still know relatively little about the reality of life within its prisons – which is odd, when you consider that England and Wales has one of the highest incarceration rates in western Europe (154 per 100,000 head of population). There is a feeling that prisoners have it too easy: that there are too many luxuries such as televisions and PlayStations; that prison food is so good that it makes pensioners weep into their meals on wheels; that convicts enjoy "holiday camp" conditions. Which is why programmes like ITV's two-part prison documentary, Wormwood Scrubs, which finished last night, are so valuable.

This was visceral and compelling television. Amid the violence and hopelessness last week we saw Dina, a female prison officer, hugging a prisoner who was dripping fresh blood from his latest episode of self-harm. Later, Dina revealed that she is still learning to cope with the attempted suicide of her own son. She called the most disruptive prisoners "daft" or "idiots". She told the self-harmer he was a "a plonker". Prison officers don't come any more human.

Human frailty was all too apparent. We saw the effects on a wing when a prisoner takes his own life, and then watched as his few pathetic possessions were gathered from his cell. When another prisoner made a serious attempt to hang himself from his cell window bars a lively young man laughed into the camera and waved his arms in mock exasperation. "This whole shit's mad, innit," he guffawed. That the suicide attempt failed was only a matter of luck. A security governor, struggling to make reassuring sounds, explained: "You always hear about the ones that die, but an awful lot are saved." That is very true.

"Violent action can erupt at any time. It can be quite extreme and it can be perpetrated towards anybody," said the prison governor Phil Taylor. But why should there be so much confrontational interaction? So much hostility? The prisoners who told us their stories last night obviously have the capacity to engage effectively without resorting to violence and aggression. As Christmas loomed, a young man recorded himself reading Goldilocks and the Three Bears and his partner later played it back for their enraptured children. A prisoner who has watched all 10 series of Big Brother while inside on various prison sentences had to dictate a heartfelt letter to his estranged 11-year-old daughter to a more literate associate. "Don't forget I love you," he told his scribe to write in the sign-off. Even "prison hard man" Jason unwittingly revealed that behind his brash exterior is a boy who never had a family. "This is my family," he said, gesturing to the chaotic characters that populate his uncouth community.

THREE PRISON OFFICERS STABBED
DAILY STAR 14th March 2010
Three prison officers at a high-security prison have been stabbed, police have said.

The attack, at Frankland jail in County Durham, is reported to have involved a broken bottle.

A spokesman for the Prison Officers Association (POA) said a female officer and two male colleagues were injured in the attack.

He said the woman was stabbed in the back, while the second officer was injured in the arm, sustaining a very serious injury. A third officer, who is believed to have rugby-tackled the inmate, was then slashed across the face during the assault.

He said two of the officers, who are all aged in their early 30s, remain in hospital. One of the officers suffered an arterial bleed and was fortunate to survive the attack.

The spokesman said: "This was a very, very serious attack and but for the grace of God we could have been looking at murder here. The public will want to know why prison officers are not provided with stab-proof vests and other equipment that police officers get."

He said the weapon had still to be to identified, but was believed to be a shard of glass. The officers were attacked on G Wing.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "Three prison officers at HMP Frankland were injured on Saturday March 13 in an incident involving a prisoner.

"All three officers were taken to hospital. The incident is now subject to a police investigation.

"Violence in prisons is not tolerated in any form. Assaults on prison staff are taken very seriously and depending on the severity will be dealt with internally or referred to the police."

16th March 2010 By Jerry Lawton
PRISON officers are demanding stab-proof vests after one was slashed with a shard of glass by a crazed inmate.

Craig Wylde nearly had his arm sliced off when the lag attacked him with the home-made weapon.

He was saved by an emergency op and needed a “considerable” blood transfusion after a main artery was slashed.

A female warder in her 30s was stabbed in the back and third officer of a similar age was slashed across the face as he rugby-tackled the deranged prisoner.

Police are probing the attack at maximum security Frankland Prison, Co Durham, which houses terrorists, rapists and killers, including Soham monster Ian Huntley, 36. The officers were set upon as they opened the unnamed inmate’s cell door at around 9am on Saturday.

A jail insider said: “There was blood everywhere.”

The Prison Officers Association called for all warders to be issued with stab vests. A spokesman said: “But for the grace of God we could have been looking at murder here.

“The public will want to know why prison officers are not provided with stab-proof vests and other equip-ment police officers get.”

Chairman Colin Moses added: “Prison staff seem to be expected to accept assaults as part of their job which wouldn’t happen anywhere else.

“We are facing budget cuts, declining numbers of prison staff and we keep saying to the Government that prisons are becoming increasingly dangerous.

“How many more incidents are we going to have to see until our prisons are properly funded?”

Craig, a 28-year-old ex-squadddie, was in a stable condition in hospital last night. His brother Lee, 34, from Durham, said: “His left arm was nearly severed.

“I am furious my brother have been left in this state. He’s served in Northern Ireland and Iraq and he’s come home injury-free. But he’s gone to work in a prison two miles from his home and he gets stabbed.

“Of course prison officers should definitely have stab vests.”

A Prison Service spokes-man said: “Assaults on staff are taken very seriously and depending on the severity will be dealt with internally or referred to the police.”

Durham Police said: “An investigation has begun into the incident.”

Give prison officers bonuses to rehabilitate criminals, says Jonathan Aitken
Prison officers would be given cash bonuses to rehabilitate criminals and cut reoffending under new Tory proposals.
Melissa Kite, Deputy Political Editor
Published: 9:00PM GMT 21 Mar 2009

A major review of prisons' policy for the Conservatives by Jonathan Aitken is proposing that prison and probation workers should be rewarded for reductions in the reoffending rates.

In a 273-page report, Locked up Potential, the former cabinet minister also recommends overhauling the present system of drug and alcoholism treatment for offenders with compulsory testing of all new prisoners and stricter anti-smuggling measures.

Under plans for much wider rehabilitation, selected prisoners would be sent to special Community Supervised Homes for Offenders, small secure units located in the community where they would be educated and given new skills.

Prisoners such as the elderly, disabled, mentally disturbed, and women offenders would also serve part of their sentences in the new centres.

Mr Aitken began his inquiry into prison reform in 2007, eight years after he was jailed for "calculated perjury" during a libel action.

He has been leading a policy task force for the Centre for Social Justice, a think tank run by former party leader Iain Duncan Smith which advises David Cameron on social issues.