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Jails at crossroads says report Jails at crossroads says report
(about 1 hour later)
The Chief Inspector of Prisons says the system has only staved off disaster from overcrowding because of expensive emergency measures.The Chief Inspector of Prisons says the system has only staved off disaster from overcrowding because of expensive emergency measures.
In her annual report, Anne Owers said that the prison system was struggling to cope with population pressures and was at a "crossroads".In her annual report, Anne Owers said that the prison system was struggling to cope with population pressures and was at a "crossroads".
She said the crisis in prison numbers had been "predicated and predictable".She said the crisis in prison numbers had been "predicated and predictable".
The government has responded by promising more prison places, and a "clear strategy" to solve overcrowding.The government has responded by promising more prison places, and a "clear strategy" to solve overcrowding.
Record highRecord high
During 2007 the prison population hit a record high of more than 81,000, and that figure is predicted to carry on growing further.During 2007 the prison population hit a record high of more than 81,000, and that figure is predicted to carry on growing further.
The government is currently running a special emergency early release scheme to ease pressures on cell places. At the same time it is also using police cells for hundreds of inmates a week.The government is currently running a special emergency early release scheme to ease pressures on cell places. At the same time it is also using police cells for hundreds of inmates a week.
Ministers have announced plans for more prisons, including three so-called "Titan" super jails which will be the largest in the country.Ministers have announced plans for more prisons, including three so-called "Titan" super jails which will be the largest in the country.
While Ms Owers' report praises work in healthcare, education and managing offenders, she said these gains were at risk because of the overcrowding across England and Wales.While Ms Owers' report praises work in healthcare, education and managing offenders, she said these gains were at risk because of the overcrowding across England and Wales.
The risk is that we will move towards large-scale penal containment, spending more to accomplish less, losing hard-won gains and stifling innovation Anne Owers, Chief Inspector of PrisonsThe risk is that we will move towards large-scale penal containment, spending more to accomplish less, losing hard-won gains and stifling innovation Anne Owers, Chief Inspector of Prisons
She said figures showed there had been 40% more self-inflicted deaths over the year - particularly at the critical stage of reception.She said figures showed there had been 40% more self-inflicted deaths over the year - particularly at the critical stage of reception.
The government's use of police cells to house some prisoners was undermining work to cut suicides, she said.The government's use of police cells to house some prisoners was undermining work to cut suicides, she said.
"During the reporting year, the prison population went from one all-time high to another, staving off disaster only by a series of short-term, often expensive, emergency measures, together with the crisis management skills of those working within the prison system," she said."During the reporting year, the prison population went from one all-time high to another, staving off disaster only by a series of short-term, often expensive, emergency measures, together with the crisis management skills of those working within the prison system," she said.
"Training prisons, as well as local prisons, felt the strain, with more suicides, poorer resettlement outcomes and in many cases insufficient activity."Training prisons, as well as local prisons, felt the strain, with more suicides, poorer resettlement outcomes and in many cases insufficient activity.
"The management and use of indeterminate sentences continued to strand those prisoners in inappropriate prisons, and drive up the population."The management and use of indeterminate sentences continued to strand those prisoners in inappropriate prisons, and drive up the population.
"Even male juvenile prisons ¿ the best-resourced male establishments ¿ performed less well as a whole than those we inspected the previous year.""Even male juvenile prisons ¿ the best-resourced male establishments ¿ performed less well as a whole than those we inspected the previous year."
'Close down' warning'Close down' warning
Ms Owers warned a planned 3% cut in the prisons budget from April was fraught with risk.Ms Owers warned a planned 3% cut in the prisons budget from April was fraught with risk.
The cuts would "effectively close prisons down" from Friday lunchtime to Monday morning, she said.The cuts would "effectively close prisons down" from Friday lunchtime to Monday morning, she said.
She also attacked the planned Titan jails, saying a building programme should not come at the expense of re-offending schemes, reforming women's prisons, probation and mental health services.She also attacked the planned Titan jails, saying a building programme should not come at the expense of re-offending schemes, reforming women's prisons, probation and mental health services.
"Our prison system is at a crossroads," she said. "There are signs of a more effective and measured approach to policy and strategy, some new initiatives, and plenty of good operational practice to build on."Our prison system is at a crossroads," she said. "There are signs of a more effective and measured approach to policy and strategy, some new initiatives, and plenty of good operational practice to build on.
"But, on the other hand, the risk is that we will move towards large-scale penal containment, spending more to accomplish less, losing hard-won gains and stifling innovation.""But, on the other hand, the risk is that we will move towards large-scale penal containment, spending more to accomplish less, losing hard-won gains and stifling innovation."
Responding to the report, Prisons Minister David Hanson said: "I recognise the challenges and we have set out a clear strategy to address them.Responding to the report, Prisons Minister David Hanson said: "I recognise the challenges and we have set out a clear strategy to address them.
"In December we set out our response to Lord Carter's review of prisons, and Baroness Corston's review of women in prisons."In December we set out our response to Lord Carter's review of prisons, and Baroness Corston's review of women in prisons.
"This will see more prison places, alongside a cross-government strategy to tackle the issue of women in prisons. We know there is more to do and we will of course examine the chief inspector's report with great care.""This will see more prison places, alongside a cross-government strategy to tackle the issue of women in prisons. We know there is more to do and we will of course examine the chief inspector's report with great care."