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Spectator
3 days ago
- Politics
- Spectator
Reform's trans prisoner policy is a mess
Reform are in the headlines again, this time over confusion about their policy on trans prisoners. Yesterday Vanessa Frake, former prison governor and Reform's UK justice adviser, said that trans women should not automatically be removed from women's prisons, preferring an individual risk assessment. Nigel Farage seemed to echo this view, deferring to her experience and saying 'it's basically about risk assessment'. This announcement put the party at odds with the recent Supreme Court ruling on the meaning of 'sex'. It also put it at odds with reality. Reform have since issued a partial disavowal, with Andrew Southall, one of the party's MP candidates in 2024, tweeting that 'Vanessa Frake is an adviser, not a policy maker', and that the party 'does NOT support putting biological men in women's prisons'. However also wrote that no man 'belongs in a women's prison if there's any risk to safety', which leaves the door open for exactly the risk assessments Frake, along with much of the Prison Service, prefers. Frake's announcement has raised criticism from across the political spectrum, with Rupert Lowe telling me that, 'Sex is immutable, and law must reflect that…under no circumstances must males be permitted to enter female spaces, especially in prisons, where the risk of violence is elevated. That Reform are still five years behind on this debate is concerning given their present electoral prospects – they must get up to speed with where political and cultural discourse is in 2025.' Robert Jenrick, the Shadow Justice Secretary said 'men don't belong in women's prisons. It's as simple as that. It's a clear risk to the safety of female prisoners, and it unwinds the welcome, overdue change that the Supreme Court's recent decision has led to. On this, Frake's instincts are clearly out of step with the views of the majority of the British public.' At the moment Reform's position would put it to the left of the Lord Chancellor. Shabana Mahmood is very much seen as 'gender critical' within Labour politics. Despite inheriting a Tory policy under which trans prisoners can be moved to women's jails if they've had surgery and are not sex offenders, and if the Secretary of State approves it, no such moves have taken place since Mahmood took office. Indeed her remarks since the Supreme Court ruling point at her desire to tighten the rule. Interviewed yesterday, Frake said 'I'm not an expert on trans people. All that I know is that everybody should be treated with humanity and decency'. Does humanity and decency require we place men of any sort in women's prisons? From my experience I say absolutely not. When I was a prisoner at HMP Wandsworth a number of trans 'women' were jailed there. The prison kept them on the 'Vulnerable Prisoners' (VPs) wing, and one of them regularly attended the library where I worked. The prisoner dressed as a woman, and had clearly had surgery. There were no problems with them being in a men's prison. Of course, our prisons are not safe environments, but those on VP wings are safer than the average prisoner, and trans prisoners do not have their humanity or decency violated any more than any other inmate in a men's jail. Even more important though, is the way in which transferring these men to women's prisons would violate the humanity and decency of those women. More than half of women in prison were abused as children (often at the hands of men), while almost 60 per cent have been victims of domestic abuse. Forcing these women to live with men, even men who 'present as women', is abusive and likely to retraumatise them. It also presents obvious risks to their safety. There is nothing decent about choosing to prioritise the demands of a very small number of men over the needs and rights of very vulnerable women. Reform are also standing against public opinion here. Recent polling shows that the British people have become far more sceptical on trans issues. The polling company did not ask about prisons, but with 60 per cent saying that trans 'women' should not be allowed to use women's changing rooms, it's reasonable to believe that a clear majority want prisons to stay single-sex. Reality, and the Supreme Court are clear: sex matters. Trans 'women' do not have a right to enter women's spaces, and the old demands that we 'be kind' hold no power. Frake, and Reform have simply got this wrong. When the Supreme Court, the Labour Lord Chancellor, Rupert Lowe and the electorate disagree with you, it's time to think again. There are signs this morning that the party is listening. A spokesman said 'an ex-prison governor who is advising…has a different opinion. That does not constitute party policy'. Meanwhile Farage has tweeted that he has 'never supported men in women's prisons', to which Rupert Lowe replied 'you did yesterday'. The last 24 hours have not reflected well on Reform. If they are to be treated as a government-in-waiting, they need to get serious, and clear about policy.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
I am a retired prison governor: Reform is the only party I trust on law and order
I am a retired prison governor. I was the governor at HMP Wormwood Scrubs for four years, and I served in the Prison Service for a total of 27 years. My mission with Reform UK is singular: to build a law and order taskforce that is equipped for Government, ready to crack down on crime and lock away the most dangerous offenders. I have never been a member of any political party. My involvement with Reform is not driven by political ambition, but by a deep commitment to cleaning up our streets and keeping Britons safe. That independence puts me in a unique position to recognise the decline of our criminal justice system and the alarming rise in crime free from partisan bias. With nearly 27 years of experience in this field, I believe that, together with Colin Sutton, we can lead a powerful and effective force to tackle crime, root out corruption, and fix our broken justice system. Throughout my time in law and order, the establishment parties have failed this country on a massive scale. Under successive governments, many crime statistics are rising. Attacks on prison officers are at record highs, with more than 10,000 assaults reported in just the last 12 months. Inside our prisons, the crisis is deepening. Incidents of drug finds have risen by 25 per cent in the past year, weapons finds have increased by 12 per cent, and mobile phone finds are up by 14 per cent. These are not isolated figures; they paint a clear picture of a justice system spiralling out of control, a system broken by the mismanagement of both Labour and the Conservatives. Neither the Tories nor Labour have put forward any real solution. Instead, they've quietly released tens of thousands of prisoners early, putting public safety at risk. They have ignored the voices of police, probation officers, prison staff, and the communities who deal with the consequences of their failures every day. Establishment politicians continue to pretend that Britain isn't becoming lawless, but we all know it is. This country bears no resemblance to what it was in my youth. Kids were playing in the streets, and theft was an unfortunate but incredibly seldom occurrence. We see the result of the establishment's policies on a daily basis: rampant criminality on the streets, repeat offenders facing little consequences, and our towns and cities becoming increasingly unsafe. Our prisons perform a necessary function in society: to protect the public, to punish, and of course, to rehabilitate. Under previous Tory and Labour governments, this has fallen by the wayside. We are now warehousing prisoners and releasing better criminals back into our communities. This has to change. The problem isn't beyond repair. It just requires a no tolerance attitude, a system where every crime is properly investigated, and one where the punishment actually fits the crime. What we have now is a system where people are serving lengthy sentences for social media posts, yet some criminals and sex offenders can walk free after a laughably short sentence. We need to send the message that the United Kingdom is a no nonsense place. One where laws are enforced, crimes are prosecuted, and anti-social behaviour is not tolerated. I believe Reform has been the only party vocal about the issue, and the only one willing to put politics aside for the betterment of the country. When I started at HMP Wormwood, I was assigned the task of cleaning up the D-wing. The D-wing was the worst of the worst, where the lifers were. It was dirty, rundown, and had a major drug problem. I carried out the job thoroughly, with zero tolerance for disrespect or disorderly behaviour. The governor at the time asked me to bring that same approach to every wing of the prison. Throughout my career in the prison system, I've maintained a no-nonsense, persistent stance toward crime and those who show contempt for the rules of society. I will bring that same determination and discipline to my role within Reform UK. We need to back the prison service, support its staff, and ensure our officers can do their jobs without fear. I believe Reform UK can help make that a reality and restore law and order across Britain. Above all, I'm proud to be part of a movement committed to restoring common sense and effective policing throughout the country. This is a party that prioritises the safety and freedom of every Briton.
BBC News
4 days ago
- BBC News
Lincoln Prison sets standards others should aim for, says report
Lincoln Prison has been labelled the best performing reception jail in England and Wales by the watchdog.A report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons said levels of violence, drug use and self-harm were lower than at other it raised concerns over overcrowding, the amount of time prisoners spent in their cells and access to report's summary said that "Lincoln is an impressive prison" and it "sets a standard to which other reception prisons should aspire [although] there is plenty of scope for things to improve further". Overall the prison was rated "reasonably good" in all categories after unannounced inspections early this turnover of staff is lower than at other prisons, and the inspection noted the "impressive" Keywork system, with prisoners given designated officers to work with them through their time report also said staff were well-motivated and "maintained good standards of behaviour and cleanliness on the wings".It noted that Ofsted had rated education provision as "good", making it one of only two jails to be awarded that concerns were raised about overcrowding, with nearly 90% of prisoners sharing cells designed for one person, and it said that "prisoners unallocated to work or education spent 22 hours locked up each day during the week".Access to GP services took too long and "did not meet patients' needs", the report Category B prison was built in the Victorian era and houses 567 inmates.A Prison Service spokesperson said: "We are pleased this report recognises the good work at HMP Lincoln, including the efforts of our hard-working staff and excellent education provision."But we know more needs to be done to address overcrowding. "We are fixing this crisis - delivering the fastest prison building plan in over a century, investing up to £7bn and adding 14,000 new places, as well as investing hundreds of millions to improve the existing estate."Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices.
Wales Online
4 days ago
- Wales Online
Investigation launched after man dies at Welsh prison
Investigation launched after man dies at Welsh prison It is the fourth death at the prison this year being examined HMP Berwyn is one of the biggest jails in Europe (Image:) An investigation has been launched after the death of a man at a Welsh prison. Prisoner Darren Watts, who was 51, died last month at HMP Berwyn in Wrexham. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) has confirmed it is examining the circumstances surrounding his death, which happened on Sunday, July 13. It is the fourth inquiry launched by the PPO in 2025 following the death of a prisoner at HMP Berwyn. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . A spokesperson for the PPO said: "We can only investigate issues that may be related to someone's death. This could include how their physical or mental health, suicide, self-harm and substance misuse risks have been managed." Darren Watts was born on November 3, 1973. As an inmate at a category C prison that can accommodate up to 2,100 men, the PPO will assess his post-mortem report and speak to prison staff before reaching its conclusions. The investigation will also consider clinical reviews, records of interviews and other relevant documents. Article continues below A PPO report will be sent to the bereaved family before a final version is issued. A coroner will then conduct an inquest to establish how he died. A Prison Service spokesperson said: "Our thoughts remain with the friends and family of Darren Watts. As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate." Join our WhatsApp news community here for the latest breaking news.
Times
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Times
Prisons get ‘Minority Report' AI profiling to avert violence
Prison officers will use Minority Report-style technology to identify potentially violent inmates before they have launched an attack in a major expansion of artificial intelligence in the criminal justice system. Shabana Mahmood, the justice secretary, will on Thursday announce plans to give the prison service use of the artificial intelligence software. The AI violence predictor analyses factors such as a prisoner's age and previous involvement in violent incidents while in custody. This will help prison officers assess threat levels on wings and enable them to intervene or move prisoners before violence escalates — or before it breaks out at all. It will also inform decisions to put dangerous prisoners under tighter supervision. It has drawn comparisons with futuristic technology featured in the 2002 film with Tom Cruise in which a specialised police department named 'Precrime' apprehends criminals using foreknowledge provided by three psychics, or 'precogs', who can predict crime before it is committed. Mahmood's AI plan also includes a tool that can digitally scan the contents of mobile phones seized from prisoners, rapidly flagging messages that may provide intelligence such as inmates' code words. It will be deployed to enable staff to uncover potential for threats of violence to other inmates or prison officers as well as plans to escape or smuggle in weapons and other contraband. The phones, often used for gang activity, drug trafficking and intimidation, are a major source of violence in prisons, which has soared to record levels. The technology uses AI-driven language analysis and has been trialled across the prison estate, analysing more than 8.6 million messages from 33,000 seized phones. The plan also sets out proposals for the creation of a single digital ID for all offenders. AI will help link records across courts, prisons and probation for the first time, linking records that previous search systems may never have connected because of minor typos or missing words. This could lead to more effective monitoring and sentencing. Mahmood said: 'Artificial intelligence will transform the justice system. We are embracing its full potential as part of our Plan for Change. 'These tools are already fighting violence in prisons, tracking offenders and releasing our staff to focus on what they do best: cutting crime and making our streets safer.' The plan represents the government's latest effort to regain control of prisons in England and Wales as violence and drug use spirals. Being a prison guard has never been more dangerous — last year a record 10,605 assaults on staff were recorded, 15 per cent higher than the previous year and averaging 29 assaults on a prison officer every day. Research by the Ministry of Justice this year found a direct link between violence behind bars and overcrowding. Prisons in England and Wales are at 99 per cent capacity and, in August last year, had only 80 spaces left. The study found that inmates of overcrowded jails were 20 per cent more likely to be involved in assaults. Charlie Taylor, the chief inspector of prisons, warned in his annual report this month that jails were plagued with 'overwhelming' quantities of illicit drugs, mobile phones and other contraband. He said drone technology posed a level of risk 'different from what we've seen in the past' and was now so sophisticated that packages of up to 10kg were being flown over prison gates. Inmates were routinely offered a 'menu of drugs'. Taylor said there was also a 'theoretical possibility' that a drone could lift a prisoner out of jail in the near future.
