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Jails at crossroads says report Future of 'Titan' jails in doubt
(about 3 hours later)
The Chief Inspector of Prisons says the system has only staved off disaster from overcrowding because of expensive emergency measures. Justice Secretary Jack Straw has hinted that the government may not go ahead with plans to build huge new so-called "Titan" jails in England and Wales.
In her annual report, Anne Owers said that the prison system was struggling to cope with population pressures and was at a "crossroads". Mr Straw told the BBC: "We're not definitely going to go ahead."
She said the crisis in prison numbers had been "predicated and predictable". It came as Chief Inspector of Prisons Anne Owers warned in her annual report the system was at breaking point.
The government has responded by promising more prison places and a "clear strategy" to solve overcrowding. She attacked the Titan plans, saying a building programme should not supersede re-offending schemes, reform of women's jails, probation and mental health.
Record high She says disaster from overcrowding has only been staved off because of expensive emergency measures and the crisis in prison numbers had been "predicated and predictable".
Planning permission issue
In her annual report, Ms Owers said the prison system was struggling to cope with population pressures and was at a "crossroads".
During 2007 the prison population hit a record high of more than 81,000, and that figure is predicted to carry on growing.During 2007 the prison population hit a record high of more than 81,000, and that figure is predicted to carry on growing.
We are not definitely going ahead with them Jack StrawJustice Secretary
The government is running a special emergency early release scheme to ease pressures on cell places. It is also using police cells for hundreds of inmates a week.The government is running a special emergency early release scheme to ease pressures on cell places. 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 had announced plans for more prisons, including three "Titan" super jails, housing 2,500 inmates each.
However, Mr Straw admitted there was doubt over the scheme.
"We haven't got planning permission for these places. We are not definitely going ahead with them," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"We're not going to have large warehouses as they have in the United States and indeed France."
Self-inflicted deaths
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 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 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
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.
"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."
We must get people with mental health or drug problems out of prison and into treatment Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg We must get people with mental health or drug problems out of prison and into treatment Nick CleggLib Dem leader
Responding to the report, Prisons Minister David Hanson said: "I recognise the challenges and we have set out a clear strategy to address them. However, Mr Straw said under Labour crime has fallen and the number of prison places provided has risen by 20,000.
"In December we set out our response to Lord Carter's review of prisons, and Baroness Corston's review of women in prisons. "We have got spare places - about 1,200 - and that's more head room than we had last summer," he said.
"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." "We also have 1,000 places coming on stream by April and 2,600 during the course of this year."
Mr Straw said overcrowding was "a problem", but he denied this would automatically lead to the early release of prisoners.
"I sincerely hope not," he said, adding: "You can never ever completely rule these things out."
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said: "This breathtaking report shows Britain's prisons are on the brink of disaster.Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said: "This breathtaking report shows Britain's prisons are on the brink of disaster.
"The staggering number of suicides shows just what a mess our prisons are in."The staggering number of suicides shows just what a mess our prisons are in.
"This isn't a problem we can simply build our way out of...Instead we must get people with mental health or drug problems out of prison and into treatment.""This isn't a problem we can simply build our way out of...Instead we must get people with mental health or drug problems out of prison and into treatment."