‘New’ prisons plan is all smoke and mirrors

I WRITE with regards to the government’s alleged new plans to clamp down on drug use in jails and the implementation of airport-style security and other measures unveiled in the Prisons Strategy white paper in the House of Commons this week.

I find the release of this so-called new strategy by the Ministry of Justice to be completely disingenuous and misleading to the public.

Every single one of the measures outlined has already been implemented in our prison system for many years now.

There is nothing new in anything that I read that is not already being done.

The only new part, from what I can ascertain, is the fact that they have simply made existing measures open to public knowledge and have misleadingly labelled it as new and improved. It’s not.

Even the intent to build up new work skills for prisoners and access to work on release has long since been a part of prisons rehabilitation strategy.

Prisoners have always had access to limited work skills-based training and even work in the community placements before release from long-term sentences. This is nothing new.

Even links with outside employers willing to take on ex-prisoners has long been established.

The only issue is that if, as a prisoner you wanted to find employment with a company that does not have established links with the approved government contacts, you would still find it almost impossible to find another employer willing to take you on, no matter how qualified you may be, because, quite simply, you have to disclose any and all criminal records.

Like most things with governments, this strategy is all smoke and mirrors and an attempt to con the public into believing the existing government is taking new steps to address crime and the causes of crime.

Name and address supplied Editor’s note: Read more about the new Glen Parva prison on Page 16.