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Reid discusses EU prisoners deal Reid discusses EU prisoners deal
(about 5 hours later)
Home Secretary John Reid is speaking to EU justice ministers in Luxembourg in search of a partial solution to the current prisons crisis.Home Secretary John Reid is speaking to EU justice ministers in Luxembourg in search of a partial solution to the current prisons crisis.
He will discuss a prisoner swap which would see the shifting of EU nationals in British jails back to their home nations and vice-versa.He will discuss a prisoner swap which would see the shifting of EU nationals in British jails back to their home nations and vice-versa.
According to BBC reporter Polly Billington such a deal could see around 1,200 spaces being freed up in the UK.According to BBC reporter Polly Billington such a deal could see around 1,200 spaces being freed up in the UK.
Recent reports say there are only 160 places left in English and Welsh jails.Recent reports say there are only 160 places left in English and Welsh jails.
The BBC's Polly Billington says there are around 2,000 EU nationals in British prisons.The BBC's Polly Billington says there are around 2,000 EU nationals in British prisons.
WaitingWaiting
Meanwhile Lord Ramsbotham, former chief inspector of prisons, has again questioned the policy which means foreign prisoners that have finished their sentences must wait in prison to be deported.Meanwhile Lord Ramsbotham, former chief inspector of prisons, has again questioned the policy which means foreign prisoners that have finished their sentences must wait in prison to be deported.
It is estimated that more than 600 prisoners have served their sentences but are waiting for deportation to be organised.It is estimated that more than 600 prisoners have served their sentences but are waiting for deportation to be organised.
The facts and figures behind prisons in the UKIn detail
In these cases it is the responsibility of the immigration service to organise their deportation, but the prison service has to keep hold of the individuals until the matter is dealt with.In these cases it is the responsibility of the immigration service to organise their deportation, but the prison service has to keep hold of the individuals until the matter is dealt with.
Lord Ramsbotham told the BBC he had previously recommended that prisoners from foreign countries have their deportation organised while they are serving their sentence.Lord Ramsbotham told the BBC he had previously recommended that prisoners from foreign countries have their deportation organised while they are serving their sentence.
"In 2000, in my annual report, I recommended that anyone who was recommended for deportation should have that deportation processed while they were in prison so at the end of the sentence they went straight to the airport and left," he said."In 2000, in my annual report, I recommended that anyone who was recommended for deportation should have that deportation processed while they were in prison so at the end of the sentence they went straight to the airport and left," he said.
EU NATIONALS IN UK PRISONS Ireland - 649 Poland - 155France - 148Portugal - 143Germany - 115Malta - 11Home Office figures from end of 2005EU NATIONALS IN UK PRISONS Ireland - 649 Poland - 155France - 148Portugal - 143Germany - 115Malta - 11Home Office figures from end of 2005
"That doesn't happen and so it means you've got people sitting around waiting while deportation is processed.""That doesn't happen and so it means you've got people sitting around waiting while deportation is processed."
The government says it wants more foreign prisoners to serve their sentences in their own country's jails.The government says it wants more foreign prisoners to serve their sentences in their own country's jails.
Any such transfer has to be approved by the prisoner, but there is currently legislation going through parliament that will remove the inmate's right of veto.Any such transfer has to be approved by the prisoner, but there is currently legislation going through parliament that will remove the inmate's right of veto.
But, says the BBC's Polly Billington, some countries' jails might not be able to cope if Britain offloaded all its prisoners. Britain has 1,500 Jamaican nationals in custody here; Jamaica only has some 4,000 in its own jails.But, says the BBC's Polly Billington, some countries' jails might not be able to cope if Britain offloaded all its prisoners. Britain has 1,500 Jamaican nationals in custody here; Jamaica only has some 4,000 in its own jails.
There are also more than 600 Irish prisoners that are currently in prison in the UK.There are also more than 600 Irish prisoners that are currently in prison in the UK.
Blocking upBlocking up
Juliet Lyon of the Prison Reform Trust has also drawn attention to the provision in the 2003 Criminal Justice Act for indeterminate sentences where, as in the case of someone serving a life sentence, a prisoner has to prove they are fit to be released at the end of their tariff.Juliet Lyon of the Prison Reform Trust has also drawn attention to the provision in the 2003 Criminal Justice Act for indeterminate sentences where, as in the case of someone serving a life sentence, a prisoner has to prove they are fit to be released at the end of their tariff.
Ms Lyon says this means people even on short sentences are blocking up the system, waiting to prove they are safe to be released.Ms Lyon says this means people even on short sentences are blocking up the system, waiting to prove they are safe to be released.
"There are already 1,000 people serving these indeterminate penalties," she said. "We've got to look very hard at how many of these sentences do we actually need."There are already 1,000 people serving these indeterminate penalties," she said. "We've got to look very hard at how many of these sentences do we actually need.
"There are a handful of very serious and violent offenders who will present a continuing threat to the public, but we're not talking about the 1,000 already who've received sentences of this kind.""There are a handful of very serious and violent offenders who will present a continuing threat to the public, but we're not talking about the 1,000 already who've received sentences of this kind."
Paul Cavadino, chief executive of Nacro, the crime reduction charity, said the prison crisis would not be solved simply by building more prisons.Paul Cavadino, chief executive of Nacro, the crime reduction charity, said the prison crisis would not be solved simply by building more prisons.
He said: "Unless we reverse this country's over-use of custodial sentences, courts will simply fill new prisons with ever more prisoners.He said: "Unless we reverse this country's over-use of custodial sentences, courts will simply fill new prisons with ever more prisoners.
"We need a sustained government campaign to persuade courts and the public of the benefits of using prison more sparingly."We need a sustained government campaign to persuade courts and the public of the benefits of using prison more sparingly.
"This must stress that overcrowded prisons are less able to cut re-offending by rehabilitating prisoners.""This must stress that overcrowded prisons are less able to cut re-offending by rehabilitating prisoners."