Chain gangs are not the answer. If prisoners work, prisons will too

A FEW weeks ago, the Prime Minister said he wanted to see criminals in chain gangs wearing hi-vis jackets. I wasn’t the only person to tell him what a bad idea that was.

So it’s good to see his deputy, Dominic Raab, suggesting a policy that could work – prisoners doing real jobs for real wages.

Attimpson that is exactly what we do and have been doing for years.we’re not the only ones. Companies such as Halfords also think it makes commercial sense to invest in training people while they’re still in prison.where Government policy allows, we’re happy to take people on day release from prison to put that training into practice in our shops. When people walk out of the prison gate for good, we employ them as valued colleagues, equal in every respect to those they work alongside.

What we get in return is the chance to get to know people before we employ them permanently.

The people recruited in this way have turned out to be amongst our most dedicated and conscientious colleagues.

I visit prisons a lot. I like the people I meet and it doesn’t take very long to see that it only takes a moment to make the mistake that puts you there. Prisons waste so much potential. Frankly, it’s crazy that we still lock up more of our fellow citizens than almost any other European country. If we don’t do everything we can to help people get a job and a place to live on release, we’re only hurting ourselves twice over.

So I’m with Raab on giving prisoners real work and real wages for doing it. Treat people like slaves – or talk about them in that way – and I guarantee

you will fail.