News31-08-03

NB: Not all stories from The Times and The Sunday Times have been included as the Times Online website was malfunctioning at the time of compilation.

MINISTER WON'T ATTEND CONFERENCE IF ARCHER DOES...
The prisons minister Paul Goggins has said that he is unable to attend the Howard League's annual conference if he is to share a platform with Jeffrey Archer.
Independent 31/08/03 http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=438756

SEGREGATION IN NORTHERN IRELAND PRISONS
Republicans and Loyalists are demanding segregation in Northern Ireland prisons.
BBC News Online 30/08/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3193253.stm
BBC News Online 29/08/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3192549.stm

REPORT ON OLDER PRISONERS
The Prison Reform Trust have published 'Growing Old in Prison' - a scoping study on older prisoners.
BBC News Online 29/08/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3190173.stm
Community Care 29/08/03 http://www.communitycare.co.uk/articles/article.asp?liarticleid=41960
Guardian 29/08/03 http://www.societyguardian.co.uk/crimeandpunishment/story/0,8150,1031772,0
Times 29/08/03 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-1-796953,00.html

PRISONER ABSCONDED "BECAUSE OF DRUGS PRESSURE"
A prisoner absconded from North Sea Camp because he couldn't stand the pressure from other prisoners to supply drugs.
BBC News Online 27/08/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lincolnshire/3186445.stm

JAMAICAN PRISON PLAN
Jamaican authorities are considering building a prison on the island to house Jamaican nationals convicted of offences in the UK
Ananova 27/08/03 http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_813387.html

ROOFTOP PROTEST AT EXETER
A male prisoner climbed onto the roof of Exeter prison.
BBC News Online 27/08/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/3181845.stm

PHIL WHEATLEY
A Guardian writer feels that the appointment of Wheatley as Director General of the Prison Service couldn't have come at a better time.
Guardian 27/8/03 http://www.societyguardian.co.uk/societyguardian/story/0,7843,1029666,00.html

PRISONERS ATTACKED
Two dissident republican prisoners have been attacked in a Northern Ireland prison.
BBC News Online 26/08/03 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3183329.stm

MOTHERS' LETTER
Three mothers of children who have taken their own lives have written a letter to The Guardian.
Guardian 26/08/03 http://www.guardian.co.uk/letters/story/0,3604,1029179,00.html

MAGISTRATES TOLD TO IMPRISON FEWER OFFENDERS
Revised guidance to magistrates is advising them to reduce their use of custodial sentences.
Independent 25/08/03 http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/story.jsp?story=436922

Voluntary Sector

The Prison Reform Trust published Growing Old in Prison jointly with the Centre for Policy on Ageing. See coverage above and www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk.

Parliament

Parliament is now in Summer Recess and will return on 8th September. For further information visit the UK Parliament website - click here.

Prison Population Statistics

The population of prisons in England and Wales on Friday 29 August 2003 was as follows:

                                   This Week        Last Week         Last Year
              Total              73,040             73,343              71,508

The population of prisons in Northern Ireland on Friday 29 August 2003 was as follows:

                                   This Week        Last Week         Last Year
              Total              1,130               1,102                1,028

The population statistics for Scotland are not published online by the Scottish Prison Service but the average population at any one time is 6,500.

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