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Reid 'not beleagured by problems' I expect more problems, says Reid
(about 5 hours later)
Home Secretary John Reid has said he "expects more problems" while reforming his department, but is by no means "beleaguered" by them.Home Secretary John Reid has said he "expects more problems" while reforming his department, but is by no means "beleaguered" by them.
Writing in the Guardian, Mr Reid said "being home secretary is my biggest challenge" and he would not resign.Writing in the Guardian, Mr Reid said "being home secretary is my biggest challenge" and he would not resign.
"If you renovate a house you start by taking the wallpaper off, it is then you discover more problems," he said."If you renovate a house you start by taking the wallpaper off, it is then you discover more problems," he said.
And Mr Reid said he should be judged not on the challenges he faced, but by his response to them.And Mr Reid said he should be judged not on the challenges he faced, but by his response to them.
On Sunday, the prime minister defended the running of the department and the government's record on prisons in an interview for BBC One's The Politics Show.On Sunday, the prime minister defended the running of the department and the government's record on prisons in an interview for BBC One's The Politics Show.
On the programme, Tony Blair conceded prisons were "full to bursting point" before pointing out that 20,000 new prison places had been created and there would be a further 8,000 added to that total soon.On the programme, Tony Blair conceded prisons were "full to bursting point" before pointing out that 20,000 new prison places had been created and there would be a further 8,000 added to that total soon.
The prime minister added that prison overcrowding was partly due to people being in jail for longer.The prime minister added that prison overcrowding was partly due to people being in jail for longer.
I was sent to the Home Office to do a job... but it isn't mission impossible Home Secretary John ReidI was sent to the Home Office to do a job... but it isn't mission impossible Home Secretary John Reid
In his Guardian article, the home secretary admitted his department would continue to be undermined by new crises and embarrassments.In his Guardian article, the home secretary admitted his department would continue to be undermined by new crises and embarrassments.
"No one need tell me that there are problems in the Home Office. I know. That's why I said parts of the Home Office were 'not fit for purpose,'" he wrote."No one need tell me that there are problems in the Home Office. I know. That's why I said parts of the Home Office were 'not fit for purpose,'" he wrote.
"I was sent to the Home Office to do a job.... but it isn't a mission impossible."I was sent to the Home Office to do a job.... but it isn't a mission impossible.
"Judge me not on the challenges, but on my response to them.""Judge me not on the challenges, but on my response to them."
Mr Reid said he had "inherited" many problems, such as foreign national prisoners and overseas criminal convictions.Mr Reid said he had "inherited" many problems, such as foreign national prisoners and overseas criminal convictions.
LATEST HOME OFFICE PRESSURES 27 January...The News of the World claims 322 convicted sex offenders are missing across the UK26 January....Home Secretary John Reid denies telling judges to give softer sentences to ease prison overcrowding26 January....England and Wales Youth Justice Board head Rod Morgan quits over youth prisons' overcrowding25 January....Risk of being a victim of crime in England and Wales rises for the first time since 1995, figures suggest21 January....Proposals reveal the Home Office may be split in two to cover justice and security14 January Senior civil servant suspended over failure to update police records of Britons convicted abroadLATEST HOME OFFICE PRESSURES 27 January...The News of the World claims 322 convicted sex offenders are missing across the UK26 January....Home Secretary John Reid denies telling judges to give softer sentences to ease prison overcrowding26 January....England and Wales Youth Justice Board head Rod Morgan quits over youth prisons' overcrowding25 January....Risk of being a victim of crime in England and Wales rises for the first time since 1995, figures suggest21 January....Proposals reveal the Home Office may be split in two to cover justice and security14 January Senior civil servant suspended over failure to update police records of Britons convicted abroad
"There will also problems I haven't discovered yet - and may well be unearthed by others," Mr Reid added."There will also problems I haven't discovered yet - and may well be unearthed by others," Mr Reid added.
Last week, he found himself at the centre of a row over sentencing after he wrote a letter reminding judges about "existing guidelines" on sentencing in relation to the current overcrowding problem in prisons. Brian Caton, general secretary of the Prison Officers Association (POA), told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that an extra 1,000 prison officers were needed.
And he called on Mr Reid to meet the association, which Mr Caton said he has not done since taking over the Home Office last year.
Mr Caton said that Mr Reid and his predecessor knew about plans to open a new, temporary prison at least 12-18 months ago and had done nothing to ensure it was fully staffed.
"They have done nothing to recruit staff to staff it, and now what they intend to do is pull staff away from existing prisons which are short of staff anyway....that is just unacceptable to the POA."
He added: "(Mr Reid) has gone now the longest of any home secretary since 1939 without speaking to the POA. What we want to tell him today is `John, come and speak to us'."
Softer sentences
Last week, Mr Reid found himself at the centre of a row over sentencing after he wrote a letter reminding judges about "existing guidelines" on sentencing in relation to the current overcrowding problem in prisons.
Lord Chief Justice Lord Phillips - the most senior judge in England and Wales - backed him saying he "was not instructing judges to stop imposing prison terms".Lord Chief Justice Lord Phillips - the most senior judge in England and Wales - backed him saying he "was not instructing judges to stop imposing prison terms".
The advice to judges and magistrates in England and Wales was given jointly by Mr Reid, the lord chancellor and the attorney general.The advice to judges and magistrates in England and Wales was given jointly by Mr Reid, the lord chancellor and the attorney general.
But it prompted two Crown Court judges to release sex offenders, blaming prison overcrowding.But it prompted two Crown Court judges to release sex offenders, blaming prison overcrowding.
But some judges said they would ignore the guidance when handing down sentences.But some judges said they would ignore the guidance when handing down sentences.
Retired judge, Keith Matthewman, told BBC News he had never been asked to consider the prison situation when sentencing offenders.Retired judge, Keith Matthewman, told BBC News he had never been asked to consider the prison situation when sentencing offenders.
Mr Reid denied that he told judges to give criminals softer sentences to ease prison overcrowding, insisting serious offenders should still be locked up.Mr Reid denied that he told judges to give criminals softer sentences to ease prison overcrowding, insisting serious offenders should still be locked up.