Record prison population drops – BBC News
“The UK prison population has fallen by almost 200 from a record high, according to the latest figures.”
BBC News, 1st June 2007
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: prisons
The Big Question: Why are our prisons so overcrowded, and how can we tackle the crisis? – The Independent
“Jails in England and Wales could be full within a fortnight. The increase in numbers of offenders being locked up appears relentless, with the prison population reaching a record high of 80,846 this week. That includes about 400 who are housed at great expense in police cells and a further handful held in court cells.”
The Independent, 31st May 2007
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Jailing fewer people ‘is only way to solve overcrowding’ – The Times
“The Justice Secretary has admitted that the Government will be unable to build its way out of the problem of overcrowded jails.”
The Times, 31st May 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Regina (Johnson) v. Secretary of State for the Home Department and Another – Times Law Reports
Arbitrary delay in parole hearing
Regina (Johnson) v. Secretary of State for the Home Department and Another
Court of Appeal
“The failure by the Parole Board to consider speedily the entitlement of a long-term prisoner to parole made his continued detention after eligibility for parole arbitrary, unjustified and therefore unlawful.”
The Times, 30th May 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.
Pressure on Falconer as prison population hits all-time high – The Guardian
“The number of prisoners in England and Wales hit an all-time high of 80,846 yesterday, raising fears that the court service could run out of cell space this week if too few remand prisoners succeed in getting bail. The record numbers saw 450 prisoners housed in police and court cells made available for overspill.”
The Guardian, 30th May 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Crime Bill may add to prison overcrowding – The Times
“Tony Blair’s final measures to tackle law and order are being threatened by a Cabinet dispute over fears that the Bill will fuel a further 3,000 rise in prison numbers.”
The Times, 26th May 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Prison numbers reach record high – BBC News
“Prisoner numbers in England and Wales have hit a record high for the second week in a row, says the Prison Service.”
BBC News, 25th May 2007
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Ministers lose manslaughter vote – BBC News
“The government has been defeated in the Lords over plans to exclude prisons from its Corporate Manslaughter Bill.”
BBC news, 23rd May 2007
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Cost of prisoners underestimated by third – Reuters
“The financial cost to the country of imprisonment has been underestimated by a third, a report said on Monday.”
Reuters, 21st May 2007
Source: www.reuters.com
Related link: Poverty and disadvantage among prisoners’ families (PDF)
Cherie Blair to head prisons inquiry – The Times
“Cherie Blair will head an inquiry looking into the UK’s prison and penal system, it was announced today.”
The Times, 16th May 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Judges seek to retain sentencing powers in prisons crisis – The Guardian
“The new justice secretary, Lord Falconer, is under pressure to find a solution to the prison overcrowding crisis without threatening judicial independence by leaning on judges to pass lighter sentences.”
The Guardian, 14th May 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
One night in the court cells costs as much as a Ritz suite – The Independent
“Prisoners are being held in court cells that cost more per night than a suite at the Ritz it emerged as ministers were accused of an ‘absurd waste of money’.”
The Independent, 14th May 2007
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Prison sell-off may fund village jail plan – Daily Telegraph
“Britain’s large Victorian prisons could be sold off and replaced with dozens of small specialist units under plans being drawn up by the Government.”
Daily Telegraph, 12th May 2007
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
R (Johnson) v. Secretary of State for the Home Department and another – WLR Daily
R (Johnson) v. Secretary of State for the Home Department and another [2007] EWCA Civ 429
“After an unjustified and random period of delay in considering the entitlement of a long term prisoner to parole, if the prisoner could show that at an earlier consideration by the parole board he would have been released, his detention thereafter was arbitrary, unjustified and therefore unlawful. Under art 5(4) of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms he was entitled to have his case considered by the parole board speedily so that his sentence did not become arbitrary.”
WLR Daily, 9th May 2007
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.
Falconer faces up to jails crisis on first day of justice ministry – The Guardian
“The chief inspector of prisons warns today that offenders are being forced to “queue” for jail cells despite an assurance yesterday from the new justice minister, Lord Falconer, that the system can cope with the immediate crisis in prisoner numbers.”
The Guardian, 10th May 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Judges are told to cut jail terms for thieves – The Times
“Thousands of petty criminals and thieves will avoid jail under Government plans proposed yesterday to ease the overcrowding crisis engulfing prisons.”
The Times, 10th May 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Penal policy – a background paper – Ministry of Justice
“The creation of a Ministry of Justice gives us an opportunity to deliver on our objectives of protecting the public, reducing re-offending and sense in sentencing. This paper outlines how an effective penal policy will protect the public and reduce re-offending.”
Penal policy – a background paper (PDF)
Ministry of Justice, 9th May 2007
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Justice ministry faces jails crisis as Home Office splits in two – The Guardian
“Britain’s first Ministry of Justice emerges today out of the rubble of the “not fit for purpose” Home Office to face a mounting prison crisis with prisoner numbers in England and Wales hitting a new record.”
The Guardian, 9th May 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Softer line on crime vetoed as jails fill up – The Times
“A package of measures to head off a summer prison overcrowding crisis, including abolishing the option of custody for shoplifting offences, has been vetoed by Tony Blair, The Times has learnt.”
The Times, 8th May 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
3,000 ‘freed early’ to ease prison crowding – The Observer
“The government is considering plans for the early release of up to 3,000 prisoners, after being told by senior members of the judiciary and Prison Service that there is no more room in Britain’s overflowing jails. The news is likely to prompt fresh criticism that ministers failed to anticipate the overcrowding crisis.”
The Observer, 6th May 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
