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Straw aims for cut in reoffending Straw aims for cut in reoffending
(about 3 hours later)
The justice secretary has said fresh prison reforms will cut reoffending rates, reduce drug use in jails and give more skills to offenders.The justice secretary has said fresh prison reforms will cut reoffending rates, reduce drug use in jails and give more skills to offenders.
Jack Straw said he wanted to press ahead with three huge "Titan" prisons - one each in south-east England, the north-west and the West Midlands.Jack Straw said he wanted to press ahead with three huge "Titan" prisons - one each in south-east England, the north-west and the West Midlands.
Criminals would also be encouraged to go on behaviour programmes, he said.Criminals would also be encouraged to go on behaviour programmes, he said.
In return they would be expected to meet certain standards of behaviour inside and outside prison. But the Liberal Democrats claimed better drugs rehabilitation and mental health provision were "years" overdue.
On Wednesday, Mr Straw suggested that the "Titan" jails might not go ahead because the government did not have planning permission for them.On Wednesday, Mr Straw suggested that the "Titan" jails might not go ahead because the government did not have planning permission for them.
"We're not going to have large warehouses as they have in the United States and indeed France," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme, prompting suggestions of a government U-turn."We're not going to have large warehouses as they have in the United States and indeed France," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme, prompting suggestions of a government U-turn.
But later Prime Minister Gordon Brown said they would be built, after consultation.But later Prime Minister Gordon Brown said they would be built, after consultation.
Removing 'barriers'Removing 'barriers'
Mr Straw said in a written statement that the government's plans signalled "a major drive to overcome some of the barriers to the rehabilitation of offenders".Mr Straw said in a written statement that the government's plans signalled "a major drive to overcome some of the barriers to the rehabilitation of offenders".
Providing enhanced vocational training to prisoners is instrumental in helping offenders turn away from crime Jack Straw Providing enhanced vocational training to prisoners is instrumental in helping offenders turn away from crime Jack Straw, Justice Secretary
"Our primary aim in doing so is further to aid the work we are already doing on cutting reoffending," Mr Straw said."Our primary aim in doing so is further to aid the work we are already doing on cutting reoffending," Mr Straw said.
"These measures are focused on tackling drug use among offenders and providing opportunities for offenders to learn the new skills which might help them to a life away from crime outside prison.""These measures are focused on tackling drug use among offenders and providing opportunities for offenders to learn the new skills which might help them to a life away from crime outside prison."
A project to train prisoners in installing voice and data cabling was to begin at Wandsworth Prison in south-west London involving companies including Cisco, Bovis Lend Lease and Panduit, Mr Straw said.A project to train prisoners in installing voice and data cabling was to begin at Wandsworth Prison in south-west London involving companies including Cisco, Bovis Lend Lease and Panduit, Mr Straw said.
"Providing enhanced vocational training to prisoners is instrumental in helping offenders turn away from crime, and giving them back a sense of stability, discipline and responsibility.""Providing enhanced vocational training to prisoners is instrumental in helping offenders turn away from crime, and giving them back a sense of stability, discipline and responsibility."
Targeting drugsTargeting drugs
Ministers will consider further measures to reduce the supply of drugs into prisons, such as reviewing the way visits were conducted and more rigorous searches, including an increase in the number of specially trained dogs to detect drugs.Ministers will consider further measures to reduce the supply of drugs into prisons, such as reviewing the way visits were conducted and more rigorous searches, including an increase in the number of specially trained dogs to detect drugs.
The flip-flopping on the so-called 'Titan' prisons betrays the lack of forward planning in the department David Heath, Liberal Democrats' justice spokesman
And more of those serving sentences of less than a year would be given "community-based punishments" rather than spells in prison, combining unpaid work, behaviour programmes and electronic monitoring, all of which would be intensively supervised.And more of those serving sentences of less than a year would be given "community-based punishments" rather than spells in prison, combining unpaid work, behaviour programmes and electronic monitoring, all of which would be intensively supervised.
Labour had provided 20,000 more prison places, Mr Straw saidAnother six such projects would be introduced over the next three years, Mr Straw added. Another six such projects would be introduced over the next three years, Mr Straw added.
He said there would also be "a competition for a new prison ship" and added that a consultation had begun for a new jail at the former RAF Coltishall airfield in Norfolk.He said there would also be "a competition for a new prison ship" and added that a consultation had begun for a new jail at the former RAF Coltishall airfield in Norfolk.
However, Jackie Worrall of crime reduction charity Nacro said the government's proposals were "certainly not new". But the Liberal Democrats' justice spokesman, David Heath, insisted that "extra investment in drugs rehabilitation and mental health provision should have been introduced years ago".
Labour had provided 20,000 more prison places, Mr Straw said"The flip-flopping on the so-called 'Titan' prisons betrays the lack of forward planning in the department, he said.
"This is a government desperate to find a way out of a crisis of its own making. I suppose that we should be grateful that at least some of the ideas Jack Straw is grasping at have been Liberal Democrat policies over many years, but I hope they are given the resources to make them work."
And Jackie Worrall of crime reduction charity Nacro said the government's proposals were "certainly not new".
"Opportunities for tackling drug addiction and making links with employers on the outside have existed for some time, but long-term overcrowding has severely hampered access to the programmes," she added."Opportunities for tackling drug addiction and making links with employers on the outside have existed for some time, but long-term overcrowding has severely hampered access to the programmes," she added.
"We remain extremely concerned that, like so many initiatives aimed at preventing reoffending, these measures will not be adequately resourced, especially when the Ministry of Justice is under pressure to find budget cuts." Merger planned
Last year the prison population hit a record high of more than 81,000, and that figure is predicted to carry on growing, but Mr Straw said that under Labour crime had fallen and the number of prison places provided had risen by 20,000.Last year the prison population hit a record high of more than 81,000, and that figure is predicted to carry on growing, but Mr Straw said that under Labour crime had fallen and the number of prison places provided had risen by 20,000.
There are currently 1,200 spare places, with an additional 1,000 coming on stream in April and 2,600 during 2008.There are currently 1,200 spare places, with an additional 1,000 coming on stream in April and 2,600 during 2008.
Earlier this week Mr Straw announced plans to merge the Prison Service with other parts of the justice system.Earlier this week Mr Straw announced plans to merge the Prison Service with other parts of the justice system.
It followed criticism of the National Offender Management Service (Noms) which was set up partly to tackle rates of reoffending, by joining up different parts of the criminal justice system.It followed criticism of the National Offender Management Service (Noms) which was set up partly to tackle rates of reoffending, by joining up different parts of the criminal justice system.