News23-11-03

News

Week ending 23rd November 2003

A HANGING MATTER
There is a "sound moral case" for restoring the death penalty.
Spectator 22/11/03 http://www.spectator.co.uk

FRY FIVER
Comments on having a prison reformer on the back of the new £5 note.
Telegraph 22/11/03 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2003%2F1

OFFICERS RETURN TO WORK
Northern Ireland Prison Officers returned to work following their walk-out on Friday.
BBC News Online 22/11/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3228866.stm

JERSEY PRISON GOVERNOR QUITS
The governor of La Moye Prison is returning to the UK.
BBC News Online 22/11/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/jersey/3228392.stm

POLICE CALLED IN TO STAFF PRISONS
Hundreds of prison officers failed to turn up for work on Friday.
Ananova 21/11/03 http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_840481.html
BBC News Online 21/11/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3227552.stm
Belfast Telegraph 22/11/03 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=466173
Express 21/11/03 http://www.express.co.uk/story.html?story=6&r=106943209231041964
Guardian 22/11/03 http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1090715,00.html
Independent 22/11/03 http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/ulster/story.jsp?story=466152
Mirror 22/11/03 http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/page.cfm?objectid=13649809&method=full
Reuters 21/11/03 http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3873250
Sky News 21/11/03 http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1112189,00.html
Times 22/11/03 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-2-903713,00.html

'INSENSITIVE' CUFFING OF PRISONER AT FUNERAL
Scottish prison officials have been criticised for handcuffing a man at his mother's funeral.
Glasgow Daily Record 21/11/03 Link

WOMEN WILL SUFFER FROM MANAGEMENT CHANGE
Prison reformers have expressed concerns over the ending of separate management of female prisons.
Guardian 21/11/03 http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1089842,00.html

PRISON SYSTEM 'FAILING WOMEN'
A report published by the Fawcett Society has criticised the treatment of women in prison.
Epolitix 21/11/03 Link
Evening Standard 21/11/03 http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/7798987
Guardian 21/11/03 http://politics.guardian.co.uk/homeaffairs/story/0,11026,1090233,00.html
Northern Echo 21/11/03 http://www.thisisdarlington.co.uk/the_north_east/news/NEWS12.html

PRISONER 'SPRINTED' TOWARDS TRAIN
A prisoner from Leyhill prison sprinted into a train, an inquest has heard.
BBC News Online 20/11/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/3224332.stm
BBC News Online 19/11/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/3285423.stm
Scotsman 19/11/03 http://www.news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2196733

INQUEST OPENS
An inquest has opened into the death of a woman at Durham prison earlier this month.
Durham Advertiser 20/11/03 http://www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk//2003/11/20/A9319o.du.html

CORRECTIONAL AGENCY PLANS CRITICISED
Plans for a Scottish Corrections Agency have been criticised by MSP's.
Scotsman 20/11/03 http://www.news.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=1280762003

AITKEN INTERVIEW
The former Conservative MP, jailed in 1999, interviewed in a student magazine.
Oxford Student 20/11/03 http://www.oxfordstudent.com/2003-11-20/focus/6

UK ASKED FOR EXPLANATION OF 'LENIENT CONDITIONS'
The US has asked for information on the treatment of the Lockerbie bomber in prison.
Reuters 20/11/03 http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N20178390.htm

RARE BREED CENTRE TO SEPARATE FROM PRISON SERVICE
A rare breed centre at Hollesley Bay Prison has become a registered charity.
East Anglia Daily Times 20/11/03 Link

YOUNG OFFENDER STATISTICS
The Society supplement in The Guardian highlights the population increases.
Guardian 19/11/03 http://www.societyguardian.co.uk/societyguardian/story/0,7843,1087709,00.html

CALL FOR MAJOR REVIEW OF YOUTH JUSTICE
Children's charities have published a new report.
Community Care 19/11/03 http://www.communitycare.co.uk/articles/article.asp?liarticleid=42875

'SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM' OF OVERCROWDING AT PERTH
The Scottish prisons inspector has criticised levels of overcrowding at HMP Perth.
BBC News Online 19/11/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3283413.stm
Evening Telegraph 19/11/03 http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/output/2003/11/19/story5365863t0.shtm
Scotsman 19/11/03 http://www.news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2194980

BROADMOOR CRITICISED
The special hospital has been criticised in a report from the Commission for Health Improvement.
Independent 19/11/03 http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health/story.jsp?story=464172
Telegraph 19/11/03 http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/11/19/

£13,000 CHRISTMAS PARTY AT FRANKLAND
The governor of Frankland prison has been criticised for spending £13,000 on a staff party.
BBC News Online 19/11/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/3283237.stm
Darlington Times 19/11/03 http://www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/2003/11/19/party.news.html
Scotsman 19/11/03 http://www.news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2196582
The Sun 19/11/03 http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2003532707,00.html

LONG LARTIN - BETTER BUT STILL HAS PROBLEMS
A prison inspection has praised Long Lartin for improving, but was critical of race relations.
BBC News Online 18/11/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hereford/worcs/3282153.stm

LOW NEWTON PRAISED
Low Newton women's prisons has been praised by HM Chief Inspector of Prison.
BBC News Online 18/11/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wear/3279039.stm
Durham Advertiser 18/11/03 http://www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/archive/2003/11/18/A92kvu.news.html

OFFENDING BEHAVIOUR COURSES A WASTE OF MONEY
An evaluation of some OBC's has highlighted their failures.
Times 18/11/03 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-2-898768,00.html

OVERCROWDING CLOSES CHAPEL
Prisoners at HMP La Moye cannot use the chapel due to overcrowding.
BBC News Online 18/11/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/jersey/3280035.stm

EMPLOYERS INVITED TO STAFFORD PRISON
Local employers visited Stafford prison as part of a project to help ex-prisoners find work.
BBC News Online 18/11/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/3280363.stm

PRINCE OF WALES VISITS PRISON
Prince Charles visited Wymott prison in Lancashire.
BBC News Online 17/11/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/3276407.stm
Scotsman 17/11/03 http://www.news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2187054

DISTURBANCE AT WOMAN'S PRISON
A minor disturbance took place at Cornton Vale Prison in Scotland.
Glasgow Daily Record 17/11/03 Link

PRISON VACANCIES 'SCANDAL'
The Mirror highlights staffing shortages in dispersal prisons.
Independent 17/11/03 http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/story.jsp?story=464496
Mirror 17/11/03 http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/page.cfm?objectid=13631377&method=full

DAILY MAIL SELECTS PRISON CHARITY
The Daily Mail has selected a charity supporting babies in prison for its Christmas appeal.
Daily Mail 17/11/03 http://www.femail.co.uk/pages/standard/article.html?in_article_id=202212

Parliament

Parliament prorogued on Thursday in advance of the Queen's Speech next Thursday, 26th November.

PQ: ETHNICITY OF PRISON SERVICE EMPLOYEES
Question asked by Mark Oaten (Lib Dem, Winchester; Home Affairs Spokesman)
Commons Hansard 17/11/03 Col 689W Link

PQ: PRISONER TRANSFERS
Question asked by Bob Russell (Lib Dem, Colchester)
Commons Hansard 17/11/03 Col 708W Link

PQ: VISITOR RECEPTION AREAS
Question asked by Martin Caton (Lab, Gower)
Commons Hansard 17/11/03 Col 708W Link

PQ: SUICIDE PREVENTION
Question asked by Claire Curtis-Thomas (Lab, Crosby)
Commons Hansard 17.11.03 Col 709W Link

PQ: CHILD-CENTRED VISITS
Question asked by Lord Hylton (Crossbencher)
Lords Hansard 19/11/03 Col WA292 Link

PQ: POWERS OF HM INSPECTOR OF PRISONS
Question asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill (Lib Dem)
Lords Hansard 19/11/03 Col WA292 Link

PQ: DEATH OF JOSEPH SCHOLES
Question asked by Lord Hylton (Crossbencher)
Lords Hansard 19/11/03 Col WA296 Link

PQ: SEGREGATION IN NORTHERN IRELAND PRISONS
Question asked by Lord Laird (Crossbencher)
Lords Hansard 19/11/03 Col WA330 Link

PQ: HOME SECURITY FOR NORTHERN IRELAND PRISON SERVICE STAFF
Question asked by Lord Laird (Crossbencher)
Lords Hansard 20/11/03 Col WA357 Link

Inspections & Reports

BROADMOOR HOSPITAL
Report by the Commission for Health Improvement into West London Mental Health Trust
(West London Mental Health Trust manages Broadmoor Hospital) Published 19/11/03
Report

HMP LOW NEWTON
Short Unannounced Inspection - Published 18/11/03
Report - Appendices - Press Release

HMP LONG LARTIN
Full Announced Inspection - Published 18/11/03
Report - Appendices

ACCREDITING OFFENDER PROGRAMMES
A process based evaluation of the joint prison/probation services accreditation panel.
Published 21/11/03 - Home Office RDS
Report

Prison Population

Country	This Week	Last Week	Last Year	Annual Change
England/Wales	74,452	74,389	72,751	+ 1,701
Scotland	6,596	6,574	6,489	+ 107
Northern Ireland	1,220	1,204	1,074	+ 146
UK Total	82,268	82,167	80,314	+ 1,954

Please note: these population statistics do not relate to any particular day. The different prison authorities calculate their populations on different days of the week. These statistics reflect the most recently released data for the respective countries. The figures do not include the number of children held in Local Authority Secure Units or Secure Training Centres.

Voluntary Sector

CHILDREN'S CHARITIES LAUNCH REPORT ON CHILDREN IN TROUBLE
A coalition of prison reform and children's charities published a report on Tuesday calling for widespread reform to the youth justice system and child imprisonment. Visit Barnardo's for further information.

CRIME AND THE MEDIA
Nacro's AGM followed a conference on crime and the media. www.nacro.org.uk

REAL WORK IN PRISON
An afternoon seminar with the Howard League for Penal Reform to consider employment in prison and their own 'Real Work in Prison' project was postponed. www.howardleague.org

CRIMEINFO LAUNCH
The Centre for Crime & Justice Studies at Kings College London launched a new website on Thursday, which aims to provide public information on crime and punishment. www.crimeinfo.org.uk

Next Week

"THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE JAILED"
MONDAY: The Prison Reform Trust, through it's Innocent Until Proven Guilty campaign, will highlight the number of people imprisoned who are later proven guilty. www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk

NAREY TO ADDRESS HOWARD LEAGUE AGM
WEDNESDAY: The Commissioner for Correctional Services, Martin Narey, will address the Annual General Meeting of the Howard League, at the National Liberal Club. www.howardleague.org

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