UK prisons hold highest number of lifers in Europe

BRITAIN has the highest number of prisoners in Europe serving life sentences, figures reveal.

UK jails held 8,554 long-serving inmates – more than France, Germany and Italy combined – according to figures from 2016.

Between them, Turkey and the UK accounted for two-thirds of the those serving life across Europe, the study added.

The findings, based on analysis of Council of Europe figures, are detailed in a report published by the Prison Reform Trust.

The report includes a section on indeterminate sentences by Professor Dirk van Zyl Smit and Dr Catherine Appleton, from the University of Nottingham.

It said: “The UK’s use of indeterminate sentences is plainly out of kilter with the majority of international comparators.”

Prison Reform Trust director Peter Dawson added: “A substantial minority of the prison population is serving sentences characterised by an absence of hope and in many cases a sense that punishment, though deserved, has ceased to be proportionate or just in its administration.

“This has profound implications for the way of life prisons provide, if the treatment of those serving the longest sentences is to be both humane and purposeful.”

The PRT also said safety had deteriorated “rapidly” in the past six years, with more self-harm and assaults than ever before.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “Indefinite sentences are reserved for society’s most dangerous criminals and are a high risk to public safety.

“When they have served their tariff they can apply to the independent Parole Board who will consider if they still represent a threat to society.” Justice Secretary David Gauke wants to reduce the prison population in England and Wales amid fears overcrowding and easy access to drugs is fuelling violence in jails.

He wants to increase the number of community sentences and cut the number of sentences under a year in duration. Officials insist serious offenders are more likely to get tougher sentences.

Mr Gauke said: “Twenty-five years ago, the population was 44,000. Today it’s 84,000. I would like it to fall. There is an issue about public protection, but I think we need to look at the efficacy of short sentences.”

Figures show six in 10 inmates given short jail terms commit more offences when released.