Long-term prisoners should get student loans ‘earlier’

LONG-TERM PRISONERS should be able to take out student loans much earlier, a report has said.

Under current regulations, prisoners cannot apply for student loans until they are within six years of release.

Even if the loans are not repaid, it would still result in a long-term saving for the taxpayer, according to the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) and the Open University.

“Participating in higher-level study offers recognised benefits both for the student and the prison and has been proven to reduce reoffending,” the report argues.

“Allowing prisoners to commence their studies earlier in a long sentence could increase student numbers by about 200 per year.” The report says that this would cost an additional £2million in upfront student loans, but could also save between £3-6million as a result of reduced reoffending rates.

Ian Bickers, deputy director of education, employment and industries at Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service, told the report: “Removing the six-year rule would allow students to start their study earlier in their prison sentence.”

This would, he added, “allow those who want to progress their studies beyond undergraduate degree level to do so while still in custody, with the potential to open wider opportunities”.

Nick Hillman, director of Hepi, said the six-year rule “beggars belief ”.

The Department for Education said it had no plans to change the policy.