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Resignation adds to Reid pressure | Resignation adds to Reid pressure |
(10 minutes later) | |
Pressure on home secretary John Reid has increased after it emerged the head of the Youth Justice Board (YJB), Professor Rod Morgan, has quit. | Pressure on home secretary John Reid has increased after it emerged the head of the Youth Justice Board (YJB), Professor Rod Morgan, has quit. |
Prof Morgan attacked Labour's young offenders policy and said children's prisons were being "swamped". | |
Mr Reid is already under fire on prison overcrowding after a man who downloaded child pornography was spared jail. | Mr Reid is already under fire on prison overcrowding after a man who downloaded child pornography was spared jail. |
The judge in the case said he had to follow Mr Reid's call to avoid jailing all but the most serious offenders. | The judge in the case said he had to follow Mr Reid's call to avoid jailing all but the most serious offenders. |
In an exclusive interview given to BBC Two's Newsnight, Prof Morgan, says youth courts and children's prisons are being "swamped" with minor offenders who are "cluttering up" the system. | |
'Swamping' | |
Echoing the crisis with adult prisoner places, he told Newsnight "we're standing on the brink of a prisons crisis. 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", he said. | |
Prof 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. | |
His resignation follows opposition attacks on the home secretary over a child pornography case. | |
Mitigating factors | |
Derek Williams, 46, of Blaenau Ffestiniog, told the BBC he was "lucky to be out" but added: "But you cannot blame the judge for what he has done. His hands are tied. He was only doing his job." | Derek Williams, 46, of Blaenau Ffestiniog, told the BBC he was "lucky to be out" but added: "But you cannot blame the judge for what he has done. His hands are tied. He was only doing his job." |
His six-month term of imprisonment was suspended for two years. | His six-month term of imprisonment was suspended for two years. |
Mold Crown Court heard Williams had downloaded dozens of pornographic images of children on to his computer. | Mold Crown Court heard Williams had downloaded dozens of pornographic images of children on to his computer. |
He pleaded guilty to 10 charges of making indecent photographs between November 2005 and May last year. | He pleaded guilty to 10 charges of making indecent photographs between November 2005 and May last year. |
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 the latest emergency measures to deal with the prison crisis. | And on Thursday Mr Reid announced the latest emergency measures to deal with the prison crisis. |
Jails in England and Wales are at bursting point, with about 80,000 inmates. | Jails in England and Wales are at bursting point, with about 80,000 inmates. |
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. | 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. |
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. |
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Lord Falconer said the judges were not being put under pressure to alleviate prison over-crowding. | Lord Falconer said the judges were not being put under pressure to alleviate prison over-crowding. |
"It is our problem....We are not for one moment saying that it is a problem for judges to solve. We are all doing our bit in the system to help in the current circumstances." | "It is our problem....We are not for one moment saying that it is a problem for judges to solve. We are all doing our bit in the system to help in the current circumstances." |
'Public confidence' | 'Public confidence' |
Shadow home secretary David Davis said of the sentencing: "We now have a situation where sentences are being dictated by the prison capacity and not the severity of the crime. | Shadow home secretary David Davis said of the sentencing: "We now have a situation where sentences are being dictated by the prison capacity and not the severity of the crime. |
"It looks like the consequences of the government's failure to address the lack of prison places is coming home to roost." | "It looks like the consequences of the government's failure to address the lack of prison places is coming home to roost." |
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said: "This is the inevitable domino effect of a government lurching about in blind panic trying to solve a prison overcrowding crisis of its own making. | Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said: "This is the inevitable domino effect of a government lurching about in blind panic trying to solve a prison overcrowding crisis of its own making. |
"By appearing to interfere with the discretion of the judiciary, John Reid is further undermining public confidence in a criminal justice system which is in total decay." | "By appearing to interfere with the discretion of the judiciary, John Reid is further undermining public confidence in a criminal justice system which is in total decay." |