Labour set to jail fewer criminals as report blasts longer prison sentences as a ‘knee-jerk’ reaction_Nhy
Labour has laid the groundwork for jailing fewer criminals with a new report blasting longer prison terms as a ‘knee-jerk’ reaction.
An official review of sentencing policy said a ‘tough on crime narrative’ adopted by successive governments had left the justice system on ‘the brink of collapse’.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood launched the review in October with a remit to ‘explore tougher punishments outside of prison’, including house arrest.
‘Too often decision-making has been based on an approach that punishment is all that matters, and that the only form of punishment that counts is imprisonment,’ said the report published today.
‘Rather than approach sentencing policy based on the evidence of what is likely to be most effective in reducing crime and reducing reoffending, too often the knee-jerk response has been to increase sentence lengths as a demonstration of government action.
‘This has left England and Wales with a very high prison population by historic and international standards, which has diverted resources from other parts of the criminal justice system that could contribute more to reducing reoffending.’
It added: ‘There is evidently opportunity for public service reform where resources could be more effectively deployed to reduce crime and the number of victims.’
Ms Mahmood has already released thousands of criminals from jail early to free up space in overcrowded jails.
Pictured: Armed kidnapper Daniel Dowling-Brooks celebrating after being released from HMP Swaleside. A ‘tough on crime’ narrative has left he justice system ‘on the brink of collapse’, a report has said
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood (pictured) launched the review in October with a remit to ‘explore tougher punishments outside of prison’, including house arrest
On the launch of her scheme freed inmates popped champagne corks and vowed to be Labour voters for life, with one proclaiming ‘Big up Keir Starmer’ as he posed with a £150,000 Bentley.
Prisons minister Lord Timpson said last year, before his appointment, that only one third of inmates should definitely be in jail.
The review is looking at ‘sentence inflation’ over the last 30 years.
It includes the way murderers are sentenced, the introduction of a release point at the two thirds point of a jail term for serious offenders, and new criminal offences.
Former Tory justice secretary David Gauke, who is leading the review for Labour, said: ‘It is clear that in order to address the capacity issues we face, we must have an honest conversation about who we send to prison, and for how long.
‘Punishment will always be a central aim of the criminal justice system, but it is not the only aim; and prison is not the only form of punishment.’
People spray sparkling wine over a man walking out of Nottingham Prison as an early release scheme came into effect last September
People celebrating outside HMP Liverpool. The prison population of England and Wales was 87,094 yesterday
When he was in the Cabinet in 2019 Mr Gauke said short jail terms did not prevent reoffending and called for them to be scrapped in favour of tougher community sentences.
But shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said: ‘Those on remand awaiting trial, plus foreign national offenders, make up roughly a third of the prison population. That’s far too high.
‘Labour should be deporting foreign nationals and expanding court capacity instead of plotting to abolish short sentences.’
The prison population of England and Wales was 87,094 yesterday, down from an all-time high of 89,000 in the autumn.
But it is far above the 44,000 behind bars in 1993 when Michael Howard, now Lord Howard, delivered his famous ‘prison works’ speech championing use of custodial sentences.
The Independent Sentencing Review will set out proposals for reform in the Spring.
