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Gove hints at rise in tagging and community penalties as jail alternatives Gove hints at rise in tagging and community penalties as jail alternatives
(about 2 hours later)
The new justice secretary, Michael Gove, has given a strong hint to MPs that he is interested in expanding the use of electronic monitoring tags and other “tough community punishments” as a possible alternative to an even higher prison population.The new justice secretary, Michael Gove, has given a strong hint to MPs that he is interested in expanding the use of electronic monitoring tags and other “tough community punishments” as a possible alternative to an even higher prison population.
However, he acknowledged to the justice select committee that there were “big problems” with the government’s existing £275m contract to introduce satellite tracking tags and disclosed that a Whitehall inquiry had been ordered into what had gone wrong.However, he acknowledged to the justice select committee that there were “big problems” with the government’s existing £275m contract to introduce satellite tracking tags and disclosed that a Whitehall inquiry had been ordered into what had gone wrong.
Ministers announced on Tuesday that the introduction of the long-promised next generation of tagging – tracking the movements of sex offenders and others – is to be delayed for at least a further 12 months. Ministers announced on Tuesday that the introduction of the long-promised next generation of tagging – to track the movements of sex offenders and others – is to be delayed for at least a further 12 months.
Gove said that he wanted to explore ways of giving prison governors more discretion and autonomy over expanding rehabilitation opportunities for work and education.Gove said that he wanted to explore ways of giving prison governors more discretion and autonomy over expanding rehabilitation opportunities for work and education.
But he also made clear that the Ministry of Justice’s unprotected budget status meant that prisons faced a new round of spending cuts from the autumn. He expressed the hope that the new-for-old prisons modernisation policy could be used to find further savings.But he also made clear that the Ministry of Justice’s unprotected budget status meant that prisons faced a new round of spending cuts from the autumn. He expressed the hope that the new-for-old prisons modernisation policy could be used to find further savings.
Gove is billed to make a major speech on prisons and probation policy on Friday but he gave a clear hint in his first session before the justice select committee that he would like to see an expansion of the use of community penalties by the courts.Gove is billed to make a major speech on prisons and probation policy on Friday but he gave a clear hint in his first session before the justice select committee that he would like to see an expansion of the use of community penalties by the courts.
His evidence came the day after the chief inspector of prisons reported that prisons across England and Wales, which now hold 86,000 prisoners, were now in their worst state for 10 years.His evidence came the day after the chief inspector of prisons reported that prisons across England and Wales, which now hold 86,000 prisoners, were now in their worst state for 10 years.
Gove said he would not take a view on whether the prison population was too high or too low as that was a matter for the courts, but he did question whether some less serious offenders could be better dealt with by “genuinely tough community penalties”.Gove said he would not take a view on whether the prison population was too high or too low as that was a matter for the courts, but he did question whether some less serious offenders could be better dealt with by “genuinely tough community penalties”.
“I do not want to be too naive in putting my faith in technology but I do believe that there is the possibility through electronic monitoring, tagging, to find ways of making sure there are some offenders in the future who can have genuinely tough and effective community sentences,” said the justice secretary. “I do not want to be too naive in putting my faith in technology but I do believe that there is the possibility through electronic monitoring, tagging, to find ways of making sure there are some offenders in the future who can have genuinely tough and effective community sentences,” he said.
“I am conscious that there is a great deal of public cynicism about this. I am conscious that the technology has not been got right. Instead of making extravagant promises about this I want to say I am open minded to it and I will set some tough criteria for the department and the criminal justice system before I say ‘let’s go wholesale for this’ as an alternative to custody.” “I am conscious that there is a great deal of public cynicism about this. I am conscious that the technology has not been got right. Instead of making extravagant promises about this I want to say I am open-minded to it and I will set some tough criteria for the department and the criminal justice system before I say ‘let’s go wholesale for this’ as an alternative to custody.”