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The General Secretary
There were few identifiable heroes or heroines, plenty of intrigue, betrayal and treachery – much sadness and definitely no happy ending. It did however, invoke much thought about the purpose of imprisonment, not about rehabilitation of offenders and very little about security. Despite passing reference to the future of the Prison Service by some guest speakers (no Home Secretary or Prisons Minister) the Conference concentrated on running a prison and justice system in a “capitalist environment”. As I reflect on the message given by Martin Narey on the future of N.O.M.S. I am drawn to consider the Government’s priorities and the priorities of our society served by the Prison Service. The three priorities (rhetoric would say education, education and education) demanded are education, health, law and order. Being slightly old fashioned I still consider prisons to be part of that law and order priority. One might wish to know how much was spent on this important area. We know of course what the Prison Service Agency budget is. We also know that it is now determined by N.O.M.S, but do we know how much of the gross national product is spent by Government on this important priority? More importantly, how does this compare with the other stated priorities of Government, and even more important, how does it compare with the spending by our European social partners. The Big GambleMartin Narey made it clear when addressing Conference that his intention would be to direct more funding away from custodial sentences and focus on non-custodial sentences. Politicians may believe that this is “modernisation in action”, but in reality this is far from the truth. Martin is taking a big gamble. He is hoping that by investing more in non-custodial sentences he can convince the judiciary not to send people to prison. He believes this will allow a greater use of noncustodial sentences and reduce the Prison Service budget. This appears to be naivety beyond belief. Martin Narey fully understands that despite his constant and correct commentary, regarding the futility of short sentencing and the intervention of Politicians. It is well known that short prison sentences are still the preferred option of judges and magistrates in the majority of criminal cases. Indeed, they are probably the preferred option of the vast majority of the society that Martin Narey was appointed to serve. I will return to a common theme, that of decency, a much lauded word by Martin. It is not decent to expect Prison Officers or indeed, the Prison Service more generally to depend on funding to run the Prison Service on this “big gamble”. “If the bet is won” everything should be fine. If this “rank outsider” fails, we will once again see the Prison Service unable to pay for an increase in prisoner population. The Prison Service will have no control over this - Martin Narey will - and when it all goes wrong, which undoubtedly it will, prisons that have failed due to the big gamble may well be market tested and the jobs of our members handed over to private companies. The same private companies who once again, due to investigative journalism by the BBC, are highlighted as unfit and unable to run their immoral business. Annual Conference 2005We are now approaching Annual Conference. The motions being placed before it will be discussed at branch meetings throughout the Trade Union. I ask you to fully participate in the union’s policy “It is your union, it is your future, play your part”. UNITY IS STRENGTH Brian Caton |
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