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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Drug traffickers passport blunder | Drug traffickers passport blunder |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The Identity and Passport Service failed to enforce overseas travel bans imposed by the courts on nearly 150 drug traffickers, the BBC has learned. | The Identity and Passport Service failed to enforce overseas travel bans imposed by the courts on nearly 150 drug traffickers, the BBC has learned. |
| The service is still trying to trace 15 of the 147 traffickers who have left jail and may have gone abroad. | The service is still trying to trace 15 of the 147 traffickers who have left jail and may have gone abroad. |
| The mistake is a further embarrassment for the Home Office, said BBC political correspondent Robin Brant. | The mistake is a further embarrassment for the Home Office, said BBC political correspondent Robin Brant. |
| The government has said the vast majority of the criminals handed such bans are still in jail. | The government has said the vast majority of the criminals handed such bans are still in jail. |
| 'A mistake' | 'A mistake' |
| The news that travel bans have apparently not been enforced on 147 drug traffickers comes after Home Secretary John Reid was forced deny that he told judges to give criminals softer sentences to ease prison overcrowding. | |
| Although Mr Reid explained he was merely re-stating existing guidelines and serious offenders should still be locked up, two judges released sex offenders, saying they were following his advice. | Although Mr Reid explained he was merely re-stating existing guidelines and serious offenders should still be locked up, two judges released sex offenders, saying they were following his advice. |
| Mr Reid apologised on Channel 4 News on Friday, saying the government should have realised a tougher stance on crime would lead to a bigger prison population. | Mr Reid apologised on Channel 4 News on Friday, saying the government should have realised a tougher stance on crime would lead to a bigger prison population. |
| "It is a mistake not to forecast that we would require a larger number of prisons than we have got at present, by putting away a greater number of dangerous offenders for a longer period," he said. | "It is a mistake not to forecast that we would require a larger number of prisons than we have got at present, by putting away a greater number of dangerous offenders for a longer period," he said. |
| "I have attempted to remedy that by a 'buy and build' policy of already asking for 8,000 more prison places." | "I have attempted to remedy that by a 'buy and build' policy of already asking for 8,000 more prison places." |
| The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) urged courts not to release dangerous criminals on to the streets. | The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) urged courts not to release dangerous criminals on to the streets. |
| Acpo president Ken Jones said: "Convicted offenders who pose danger to our communities must continue to be dealt with in line with current sentencing guidelines." | Acpo president Ken Jones said: "Convicted offenders who pose danger to our communities must continue to be dealt with in line with current sentencing guidelines." |
| "Courts releasing inappropriate offenders into our communities present avoidable risks, and can only undermine public confidence and draw police from their core roles." | "Courts releasing inappropriate offenders into our communities present avoidable risks, and can only undermine public confidence and draw police from their core roles." |
| The Conservatives subsequently accused Mr Reid of failing to protect the public and presiding over "anarchy" in his department. | The Conservatives subsequently accused Mr Reid of failing to protect the public and presiding over "anarchy" in his department. |
| 'Bad news' | 'Bad news' |
| On Friday, Rod Morgan, head of the England and Wales Youth Justice Board, resigned over overcrowding in youth prisons. | On Friday, Rod Morgan, head of the England and Wales Youth Justice Board, resigned over overcrowding in youth prisons. |
| A Home Office spokeswoman refuted the claim that young people are being "demonised and criminalised". | A Home Office spokeswoman refuted the claim that young people are being "demonised and criminalised". |
| 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. |
| The Shadow Attorney General, Dominic Grieve, gave his reaction to the latest controversy to BBC News 24. | The Shadow Attorney General, Dominic Grieve, gave his reaction to the latest controversy to BBC News 24. |
| "I think it's very bad news for John Reid. | "I think it's very bad news for John Reid. |
| "He's come in, he's come in as the tough man, he's made a whole series of utterances, many of which again are far removed from reality, and what he's finding, and I think quite painfully, is that as time moves on, in fact many of the things he said are grossly inaccurate." | "He's come in, he's come in as the tough man, he's made a whole series of utterances, many of which again are far removed from reality, and what he's finding, and I think quite painfully, is that as time moves on, in fact many of the things he said are grossly inaccurate." |