“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
“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
“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 [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.
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“The government should place a cap on prison places to lessen overcrowding and stem the resources poured into building new jails, the former lord chief justice Lord Woolf said today.”
The Guardian, 17th April 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“The Home Office has pledged to review the management of a privately run prison where an investigation by Guardian Films and the BBC uncovered routine bullying of staff by prisoners at the jail.”
The Guardian, 17th April 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“The powers of Home Office officials to discipline and order the segregation and restraint of prisoners in Britain’s private jails would be handed over to the prison companies under legislation to be debated today by the House of Lords.”
The Guardian, 17th April 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“An investigation by an undercover reporter working as a prison officer has exposed conditions in a private jail where inmates have easy access to drugs and mobile phones and subject overstretched staff to intimidation if they are too diligent in their work.”
The Guardian, 16th April 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Britain’s prison system faces scrutiny this weekend over its treatment of ethnic minority prisoners as new evidence is revealed about how an Asian inmate was killed by his white cellmate.”
The Guardian, 15th April 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“The Prison Service’s attempts to curb the growth of radical Islam in jails by restricting communal prayers and reading of the Qur’an during work breaks are exacerbating the problem, according to the first in-depth study of Muslim prisoners.”
The Guardian, 13th April 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Prison governors have delivered an urgent warning to ministers that building new jails will not solve the criminal justice crisis and that too many minor offenders with mental health and alcohol problems are being locked up.”
The Guardian, 10th April 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Hundreds of prisoners will be moved into open prisons within days to ease pressure on Britain’s bursting jails.”
The Independent, 3rd April 2007
Source: www.independent.co.uk
“A private prison was criticised by its staff and a judge yesterday following the collapse of a manslaughter trial over the death of a prisoner on suicide watch.”
The Guardian, 3rd April 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“A long-term prisoner has launched an attempt in the high court to stop BT charging inmates more than five times the national call box rate for phone calls, claiming it breaches human rights. The action, which began last Thursday, has the backing of the prisons ombudsman, the chief inspector of prisons and reformers.”
The Guardian, 2nd April 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
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