Press releases

REF: PR/05/08

DATE: 15th February 2008

To: MPs
ALL POLITICAL EDITORS
ALL INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENTS

PRESS RELEASE
NO EMBARGO

WHAT NEXT AS PRISONS FACE ANOTHER CRISIS

As the prison population once again reaches record numbers, the Prison Service and Ministry for Justice are facing a massive crisis.

The prison population has been dangerously high throughout 2007 up to the present day seeing the Government introduce an early release scheme allowing offenders back into the community 18 days before their release date.

Colin Moses, National Chairman of POA said:

“The Prison Service is about to burst and if something is not done immediately the general public will be at risk and/or prisons will be unsafe.

“The Ministry of Justice have mismanaged the prison population and will now have to take some very brave decisions to try and cope with the ever increasing prison numbers.

“I can only see an extension to the early release scheme or prisons being forced to overcrowd, therefore placing more pressure on staff who deal with violent prisoners.  It will put both prison staff and the public at risk.

“For the first time in the history of the Prison Service we are now seeing gang warfare in open prisons as recently reported in North Sea Camp in Lincolnshire.  This is because the Prison Service is sending prisoners who are not suitable for open conditions to open prisons, in an attempt to ease the crisis we are seeing in the Prison Service.

For further information contact:
POA Press Office: 020 8803 0255 Option 7

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