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| Resignation adds to Reid pressure | Resignation adds to Reid pressure |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Pressure on Home Secretary John Reid has grown after the head of the Youth Justice Board of England and Wales quit over prison overcrowding. | Pressure on Home Secretary John Reid has grown after the head of the Youth Justice Board of England and Wales quit over prison overcrowding. |
| Rod Morgan said the youth justice system and children's prisons were being "swamped" by minor offenders. | Rod Morgan said the youth justice system and children's prisons were being "swamped" by minor offenders. |
| The Home Office dismissed Mr Morgan's claims but the Tories said they showed the government's "lack of credibility". | The Home Office dismissed Mr Morgan's claims but the Tories said they showed the government's "lack of credibility". |
| Mr Reid is already under fire after calling for judges to avoid jailing all but the most serious offenders. | Mr Reid is already under fire after calling for judges to avoid jailing all but the most serious offenders. |
| A judge said he did not jail a man who had downloaded child porn as a result, sparking fierce opposition criticism. | A judge said he did not jail a man who had downloaded child porn as a result, sparking fierce opposition criticism. |
| And another Crown Court judge has openly defied Mr Reid's advice, saying politicians should wake up to the fact prisoners were reoffending "because judges can no longer pass deterrent sentences". | And another Crown Court judge has openly defied Mr Reid's advice, saying politicians should wake up to the fact prisoners were reoffending "because judges can no longer pass deterrent sentences". |
| 'Swamping' | 'Swamping' |
| Judge Richard Bray, sitting at Northampton Crown Court, said he would pass whatever sentences, including jail terms, he felt appropriate. | Judge Richard Bray, sitting at Northampton Crown Court, said he would pass whatever sentences, including jail terms, he felt appropriate. |
| In an exclusive interview given to BBC Two's Newsnight, Mr Morgan said youth courts and children's prisons were being overrun with minor offenders who are "cluttering up" the system. | In an exclusive interview given to BBC Two's Newsnight, Mr Morgan said youth courts and children's prisons were being overrun with minor offenders who are "cluttering up" the system. |
| Echoing the row with adult prisoner places, the professer told Newsnight: "We're standing on the brink of a prisons crisis. | Echoing the row with adult prisoner places, the professer told Newsnight: "We're standing on the brink of a prisons crisis. |
| The prime minister and home secretary's initiatives are looking less like an agenda for respect and more like an agenda for anarchy David Davis, shadow home secretary Profile: Rod Morgan | The prime minister and home secretary's initiatives are looking less like an agenda for respect and more like an agenda for anarchy David Davis, shadow home secretary Profile: Rod Morgan |
| "We have tonight lots of people in police cells because there is no space for them in custody and that's true for children and young people also. | "We have tonight lots of people in police cells because there is no space for them in custody and that's true for children and young people also. |
| "I regard a 26% increase in the number of children and young people that are being drawn into the system in the past three years as swamping." | "I regard a 26% increase in the number of children and young people that are being drawn into the system in the past three years as swamping." |
| Mr Morgan became Chair of the Youth Justice Board in April 2004. | Mr Morgan became Chair of the Youth Justice Board in April 2004. |
| He was formerly HM Chief Inspector of Probation for England and Wales, a post he took up in August 2001. | He was formerly HM Chief Inspector of Probation for England and Wales, a post he took up in August 2001. |
| 'Anarchy' | 'Anarchy' |
| Shadow home secretary David Davis said of the resignation: "Apart from reinforcing the existing chaos in the Home Office this is a demonstration of the lack of the government's own credibility. | Shadow home secretary David Davis said of the resignation: "Apart from reinforcing the existing chaos in the Home Office this is a demonstration of the lack of the government's own credibility. |
| "It is no good the government chasing headlines without providing the proper resources and capabilities to deliver the task. | "It is no good the government chasing headlines without providing the proper resources and capabilities to deliver the task. |
| When John Reid attacked sentences, I knew that he'd come to regret it BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full | When John Reid attacked sentences, I knew that he'd come to regret it BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full |
| "The prime minister and home secretary's initiatives are looking less like an agenda for respect and more like an agenda for anarchy." | "The prime minister and home secretary's initiatives are looking less like an agenda for respect and more like an agenda for anarchy." |
| The Home Office said Mr Morgan had been given an opportunity to re-apply for his job at the end of his first three year term but had declined. | The Home Office said Mr Morgan had been given an opportunity to re-apply for his job at the end of his first three year term but had declined. |
| A spokeswoman hit back at Mr Morgan's criticisms of the youth justice system. | A spokeswoman hit back at Mr Morgan's criticisms of the youth justice system. |
| "We refute the claim that young people are being demonised and criminalised. Considerable emphasis has been placed on providing activities for young people." | "We refute the claim that young people are being demonised and criminalised. Considerable emphasis has been placed on providing activities for young people." |
| But she added: "We remain unapologetic about the need to tackle anti-social behaviour by anyone, regardless of their age." | |
| Porn case | Porn case |
| Mr Morgan's resignation follows opposition attacks on the home secretary over a child pornography case. | Mr Morgan's resignation follows opposition attacks on the home secretary over a child pornography case. |
| Derek Williams, 46, of Blaenau Ffestiniog, pleaded guilty to 10 charges of making indecent photographs between November 2005 and May last year. | Derek Williams, 46, of Blaenau Ffestiniog, pleaded guilty to 10 charges of making indecent photographs between November 2005 and May last year. |
| The court heard he had downloaded dozens of pornographic images of children on to his computer. | The court heard he had downloaded dozens of pornographic images of children on to his computer. |
| But his six-month term of imprisonment was suspended for two years. | But his six-month term of imprisonment was suspended for two years. |
| In sentencing Judge John Rogers QC said he had to bear in mind "the current sentencing climate". | In sentencing Judge John Rogers QC said he had to bear in mind "the current sentencing climate". |
| This week, Mr Reid and other Cabinet ministers wrote to judges and magistrates asking them to imprison only the most dangerous and persistent criminals. | This week, Mr Reid and other Cabinet ministers wrote to judges and magistrates asking them to imprison only the most dangerous and persistent criminals. |
| Prison ships | Prison ships |
| And on Thursday Mr Reid announced emergency measures to deal with the prison crisis. | And on Thursday Mr Reid announced emergency measures to deal with the prison crisis. |
| Figures released earlier show the prison population in England and Wales is at bursting point, having reached 79,731, an increase of 356 on last Friday. | Figures released earlier show the prison population in England and Wales is at bursting point, having reached 79,731, an increase of 356 on last Friday. |
| Mr Reid revealed an RAF camp in the north of England is to be used to house convicts, and he is also in negotiations over the purchase of two prison ships. | |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Overcrowded and full prisons are indicative of a rapidly increasing crime rate Gordon, Southampton Send us your comments | |
| Construction has also started on prefabricated units to go into a prison in Merseyside. | Construction has also started on prefabricated units to go into a prison in Merseyside. |
| The Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, said the letter to judges was not intended to change sentencing principles, but to set out the current context. | The Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, said the letter to judges was not intended to change sentencing principles, but to set out the current context. |
| He said judges were not being put under pressure to alleviate prison over-crowding. | He said judges were not being put under pressure to alleviate prison over-crowding. |