Latest news with #PrisonGovernorsAssociation
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Rioters and people smugglers to be moved to open prisons early
Serious offenders, including rioters and people smugglers, will be transferred early to open prisons to tackle the jail overcrowding crisis, governors have warned. The Prison Governors' Association (PGA) said it was 'concerned' by a rule change that will allow potentially dangerous criminals to be moved to open prisons up to three years before they are due to be released. It could mean criminals serving sentences of more than seven years will be transferred within two weeks of being jailed, the PGA said. Among the eligible prisoners are human traffickers bringing in migrants for forced labour, offenders convicted of rioting or violent disorder, criminals caught with guns, class A drug dealers, motorists who have caused serious injury by dangerous driving and fraudsters. The rule, known as TPRS36, which takes effect on Friday, introduces a 'presumption' that offenders who meet certain risk and offence criteria should be transferred to open prisons three years before their automatic scheduled release date. Governors will make the final decision on transfers, but the PGA said they would only have limited discretion, in exceptional circumstances, to reject moves to open prisons While closed category A to C prisons remain overcrowded, there is space within category D open prisons. However, open prisons have minimal security with no physical barriers such as high walls, fences and secure gates and less supervision by officers to stop offenders from simply walking out. Accommodation is more akin to student digs, with eligible inmates allowed to spend most of their day away from the prison on licence to work, attend education or participate in other resettlement programmes. Tom Wheatley, PGA president, said: 'Open prisons are not a suitable place to house men that have been very recently sentenced for serious offences without any risk assessment. 'To ask the governor to decide that such risk is 'wholly unacceptable', given eligibility after just 14 days, is too short a time to make any such assessment and therefore to protect the public. It is also not what victims of crime expect, nor what the courts intend. 'This is simply a scheme to manage the lack of suitable prison capacity and, having already released many low-risk offenders, it is becoming difficult to use the capacity in open prisons. If TPRS36 rules were not used, many of these men would remain in the closed prison estate safely behind walls and fences.' Eligible prisoners include those serving standard determinate sentences, where they are eligible for release 40 per cent of the way through their terms, no history of escape attempts, have served at least 14 days of their time and have a 'low or medium' risk of causing serious harm on release. Terrorists, sex offenders, violent offenders serving sentences of more than four years and stalkers are excluded. A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: 'We are building new prisons and are on track for 14,000 places by 2031 – the largest expansion since the Victorians. 'Our sentencing reforms will also force prisoners to earn their way to release or face longer in jail for bad behaviour, while ensuring the most dangerous offenders can be kept off the streets. 'Only certain thoroughly risk-assessed offenders are eligible for moves to open prison and anyone found breaching the rules can be immediately returned to a closed prison.' The move follows the introduction of an early release scheme where offenders are freed 40 per cent of the way through their sentence and changes so that violent criminals, burglars and robbers recalled to jail will serve just a month in prison. The early release schemes are designed to tide the MoJ through until the introduction of its sentencing reforms which will see prisoners who behave well released as little as a third of the way through their sentences and killers, rapists and other violent offenders eligible for release at the halfway point rather than two thirds.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Prison governors blast new Labour scheme forcing them to send serious offenders to open prison after just TWO WEEKS
Jail chiefs have slammed a new Labour scheme which will allow serious criminals to be transferred to open prison after serving just two weeks behind bars. The Prison Governors' Association (PGA) warned the move would 'potentially place the public at greater risk'. It is the first time the association has expressed concern over a series of soft-justice measures introduced since the general election by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood. In a bid to free up space in overcrowded jails Ms Mahmood brought in a scheme last autumn which allows most criminals to be freed after serving just 40 per cent of their sentence. And last month Ms Mahmood indicated she would go ahead with a wholesale reform of court punishments which will see tens of thousands of criminals a year dodge jail, or be freed after serving just a third of their sentence. The new measures allow prisoners to be transferred to open jails three years before their normal release date. Crucially, governors will have 'only limited discretion in exceptional circumstances' to reject the transfers, the PGA said. The rules come into force on Monday. It means, for example, that criminals sentenced to seven and a half years' imprisonment on Tuesday last week, just after the bank holiday, will become eligible for open prison during the course of next week. Under the scheme, governors will be able to delay the moves if they assess a move to open jail would pose a 'wholly unacceptable risk'. But they will not have enough time to make proper assessments during the two-week run-up, the PGA warned. Its president Tom Wheatley said: 'Without the ability to properly consider a prisoner's behaviour during those two weeks we have concerns our members will be required to take decisions that potentially place the public at greater risk. 'There has not been sufficient clarity from the Government that this does come with increased risk.' He added: 'Open prisons are not a suitable place to house men that have been very recently sentenced for serious offences without any risk assessment. 'To ask the governor to decide that such risk is 'wholly unacceptable', given eligibility after just 14 days, is too short a time to make any such assessment and therefore to protect the public. 'It is also not what victims of crime expect, nor what the courts intend. 'This is simply a scheme to manage the lack of suitable prison capacity and having already released many low-risk offenders, it is becoming difficult to use the capacity in open prisons.' He said that without the new policy 'many of these men would remain in the closed prison estate safely behind walls and fences'. Terrorists, some sex offenders and those jailed for more than four years for violent crimes will not be eligible. But among those who could be transferred immediately include those handed long jail terms for crimes including possession of a firearm, rioting or violent disorder, drug trafficking and dealing, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and human trafficking. On a seven and a half year sentence they will eligible for release after serving 40 per cent, or 36 months, which is the point at which transfer to open conditions can now kick in. A PGA spokesman said: 'This would still mean that after just two weeks in prison a man serving a seven and a half year prison sentence could be moved to an open prison, where there are no physical barriers like high walls, fences, secure gates and minimal staff supervision that could prevent prisoners from simply walking out.' There are also fears the scheme could damage rehabilitation schemes in open jails. Mr Wheatley said: 'Governors of open prisons are concerned that that valuable work those jails do – including with some life sentenced prisoners who have already served decades – could be undermined by a large number of new inmates turning up who have done nothing to earn the right to be in open prison.' There are 14 open jails in England and Wales, with the best known including HMP Ford in West Sussex and HMP North Sea Camp in Lincs. They are designed for criminals deemed to be very low risk or who are coming to the end of very long sentences. Prisoners will be eligible for much earlier transfer to jails such as HMP Ford in West Sussex, pictured Ms Mahmood's early prison release scheme saw 16,231 prisoners let out between its launch in September and the end of last year. Updated figures have not been published but the total is now thought to be between 30,000 and 40,000. A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: 'Only certain thoroughly risk-assessed offenders are eligible for moves to open prison and anyone found breaching the rules can be immediately returned to a closed prison. 'We are building new prisons and are on track for 14,000 places by 2031 – the largest expansion since the Victorians. 'Our sentencing reforms will also force prisoners to earn their way to release or face longer in jail for bad behaviour, while ensuring the most dangerous offenders can be kept off the streets.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Prisoners to be transferred to lower security jails to ease overcrowding
Prisoners are to be transferred to lower security jails in an effort to ease overcrowding, as part of a new measure quietly unveiled by the government. Sky News understands that as of Monday, offenders serving standard sentences can be transferred to open or category D prisons up to three years earlier than previously, to free up space in higher security jails. Open prisons have minimal security and allow eligible prisoners to spend time on day release away from the prison on licence conditions to carry out work or education. It's unclear how many prisoners this will apply to, but the majority of those in prison custody serve standard determinate sentences. This is an extension of a policy which previously existed, as the prison service is warned of urgent capacity pressures. Exemptions will include sex offenders, terrorists, violent criminals, those convicted of stalking, and prisoners serving a sentence of over four years. It could mean those convicted of domestic abuse-related crimes are eligible for transfer to open prisons. The Prison Governors Association told Sky News it has "concerns" about the measure. "This would still mean that after just two weeks in prison a man serving a seven and a half year prison sentence could be moved to an open prison, where there are no physical barriers like high walls, fences, secure gates and minimal staff supervision that could prevent prisoners from simply walking out," the association said in a statement. Prison governors will have some discretion to judge the risk of the move, but it's understood the "presumption" will be that the transfer should take place. Despite early release measures, prisons in England and Wales continue to face chronic overcrowding. The male estate is currently operating at around 98% capacity. Read more from Sky News: This latest measure comes after the government accepted recommendations made in the sentencing review, which will see almost 10,000 fewer people sent to prison in the next three years. However, these measures will take time to become legislation. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "We are building new prisons and are on track for 14,000 places by 2031 - the largest expansion since the Victorians. Our sentencing reforms will also force prisoners to earn their way to release or face longer in jail for bad behaviour, while ensuring the most dangerous offenders can be kept off the street. "Only certain thoroughly risk-assessed offenders are eligible for moves to open prison and anyone found breaching the rules can be immediately returned to a closed prison."
Sky News
3 days ago
- General
- Sky News
Prisoners to be transferred to lower security jails to ease overcrowding
Prisoners are to be transferred to lower security jails in an effort to ease overcrowding, as part of a new measure quietly unveiled by the government. Sky News understands that as of Monday, offenders serving standard sentences can be transferred to open or category D prisons up to three years earlier than previously, to free up space in higher security jails. Open prisons have minimal security and allow eligible prisoners to spend time on day release away from the prison on licence conditions to carry out work or education. It's unclear how many prisoners this will apply to, but the majority of those in prison custody serve standard determinate sentences. This is an extension of a policy which previously existed, as the prison service is warned of urgent capacity pressures. Exemptions will include sex offenders, terrorists, violent criminals, those convicted of stalking, and prisoners serving a sentence of over four years. It could mean those convicted of domestic abuse-related crimes are eligible for transfer to open prisons. The Prison Governors Association told Sky News it has "concerns" about the measure. "This would still mean that after just two weeks in prison a man serving a seven and a half year prison sentence could be moved to an open prison, where there are no physical barriers like high walls, fences, secure gates and minimal staff supervision that could prevent prisoners from simply walking out," the association said in a statement. Prison governors will have some discretion to judge the risk of the move, but it's understood the "presumption" will be that the transfer should take place. Despite early release measures, prisons in England and Wales continue to face chronic overcrowding. The male estate is currently operating at around 98% capacity. This latest measure comes after the government accepted recommendations made in the sentencing review, which will see almost 10,000 fewer people sent to prison in the next three years. However, these measures will take time to become legislation. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "We are building new prisons and are on track for 14,000 places by 2031 - the largest expansion since the Victorians. Our sentencing reforms will also force prisoners to earn their way to release or face longer in jail for bad behaviour, while ensuring the most dangerous offenders can be kept off the street. "Only certain thoroughly risk-assessed offenders are eligible for moves to open prison and anyone found breaching the rules can be immediately returned to a closed prison."
The Guardian
6 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Robert Jenrick's call to arm prison officers is ‘nonsense', governors say
Robert Jenrick's demand for armed prison guards has been described as 'headline-grabbing nonsense' by organisations representing governors and staff. The shadow justice secretary, who has made a series of eye-catching demands over the last few days, said on Sunday that prison officers should be allowed to carry guns and build up 'armouries' to clamp down on violence from Islamist gangs and violent prisoners. Tom Wheatley, the president of the Prison Governors' Association, told the Guardian: 'The firearms/lethal force armouries suggestion is just headline-grabbing nonsense. 'If this was needed, why wouldn't armed police be deployed rather than creating another trained force in our service? 'It is likely that the Lord Chancellor [Shabana Mahmood] is considering wider use of protective body armour, but the focus should be on the need for more investment to counter drones and serious organised crime,' he said. The Prison Officers' Association (POA), which has warned that it is only a matter of time before a prison officer is murdered because of a rise in prison violence, has also poured cold water on the Tories' demand for guns in prisons. Mark Fairhurst, the national chair of the POA, said: 'We are asking for Tasers and the use of non-lethal options. If we ever need firearm support we have an agreement with chief constables to provide mutual aid. 'The Tories think we need this level of protection but we need to exhaust all other options first, including adequate protections for staff and 'supermax' facilities,' he said. On Friday, a prison officer at HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire was seriously injured when he was stabbed by a violent inmate with a knife that was believed to have been flown into the high-security jail by a drone. Last month, Hashem Abedi, the Manchester Arena bomber, who is serving life for 22 murders, attacked three officers in a separation unit at the high security HMP Frankland, in County Durham. Shabana Mahmood, the lord chancellor, has ordered a review into whether to issue frontline officers with stab vests, as well as a trial of Tasers, and the suspension of prisoners' use of kitchens in separation units used to segregate Islamist terrorists. In an article for the Telegraph, Jenrick said: 'We have to stop pussy-footing around Islamist extremists and violent offenders in jails. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion 'That means arming specialist prison officer teams with Tasers and stun grenades, as well as giving them access to lethal weapons in exceptional circumstances. 'If prison governors can't easily keep terrorist influencers and radicalising inmates apart from the mainstream prisoners they target, then we don't control our prisons – they do. We must take back control and restore order by giving officers the powers and protection they need.' Whitehall sources said that taking guns on to the prison estate would make officers carrying weapons a 'deadly target' for prison gangs. Jenrick has generated eye-catching headlines over recent days, but has denied that he wishes to replace Kemi Badenoch as Tory leader. On Thursday, he posted a video of himself online confronting people he accused of fare-dodging in central London. A spokesperson for Jenrick has been approached for a comment.
