The Conservatives have abandoned any attempt to fix the crisis they created in our prisons and justice system - Richard Burgon

Richard Burgon MP, Labour's Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, responding to the speech by David Lidington at the Conservative Party conference, said:

“It is clear that the Conservatives have abandoned any attempt to fix the crisis they created in our prisons and justice system. David Lidington’s speech was mostly a rehashing of previous announcements, presumably he hopes no one will noticed that the Conservatives have run out of ideas.

“Talk of reform and rehabilitation is empty rhetoric unless staff numbers are substantially increased. One third of prisons have seen further cuts in their officer numbers this year alone, while officer leaving rates are up three fold under this Government and plans for a further real terms pay cut for prison officers will deepen the crisis further.

“It is shocking that David Lidington didn’t even bother to mention legal aid, let alone outline solutions to help the hundreds of thousands of people who have been priced out of the justice system by the Conservatives’ cuts.”

Ends

Notes to editors

Analysis of David Lidington’s announcements on prison reform reveal that there is nothing new in today’s speech -

“So today I can announce the start of additional intelligence-led counter-drone operations, to disrupt drones as they enter prison airspace and trace them back to the criminals involved.”

David Lidington, speech to CPC, 3 October 2017

New squad to tackle drones was announced in April.

“The newly-formed team of officers will contain staff from the police and HMPPS. They will bring together intelligence from across prisons and the police to identify lines of inquiry, which will then be passed to local forces and organised crime officers.”

MOJ press release, 17 April 2017, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-squad-formed-to-tackle-drone-threat-to-prisons

Further drones crackdown announced in July.

“Meanwhile, a specialist squad of prison and police officers has been formed to tackle the threat drones pose to prison security.”

MoJ press release, 9 July 2017,

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/crackdown-on-drugs-drones-and-mobile-phones-in-prisons

Which David Lidington boasted about during the summer.

“Prisons have at their disposal a range of security measures to reduce the supply of drugs being smuggled into prisons including physical searching, the use of x-ray machines, CCTV surveillance cameras, intelligence-led searches and drug detection dogs. We have also introduced new national and regional intelligence units, and are investing over £3 million in creating counter-serious organised crime (SOC) units in HMPPS, which are working with establishments and law enforcement partners to develop intelligence on individuals and organised crime groups linked to the supply of drugs in prisons.”

David Lidington, Hansard, Written Answer 5583, 25 July 2017, http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2017-07-17/5583/

“And today I can announce pilots of a new generation of body scanners to add to our tools in the fight against drug smuggling.”

David Lidington, speech to CPC, 3 October 2017

This was first promised by in 2015.

“We are committed to investing in different detection technology, including body scanners, to tackle this issue."

Andrew Selous, BBC News, 15 March 2015, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31861568

Truss mentioned a pilot prisons in September 2016.

“We have introduced criminal sanctions for those who throw packages or use drones, to take illicit items into our prison estate and we are trialling a body scanner in Wandsworth prison.”

Liz Truss, Government’s Response to Justice Select Committee report on Prison safety, HC 625, 8 September 2016,https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmjust/647/64702.htm

Body scanners introduced to Forest Bank prison in Manchester the next month.

Manchester Evening News, 21 November 2016, http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/forest-bank-prison-introduce-body-12107791

They are mentioned again in prison reform white paper November 2016.

“continue to pursue and evaluate technology that can detect drugs including body scanners and drug trace detectors.”

MoJ, Prison Safety and Reform white paper, 3 November 2016, https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/565014/cm-9350-prison-safety-and-reform-_web_.pdf

And a coroner called for their use at HMP Birmingham in following drug-related death.

Guardian, 19 December 2016, https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/dec/18/birmingham-prison-riot-government-was-warned-two-months-earlier

And Chief Inspector called for them to be installed in all prisons a few days ago.

Peter Clarke, Evening Standard, 29 September 2017, https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/jail-spiceheads-out-of-control-inmate-warns-prisons-chief-a3645851.html

“Today we have 868 more prison officers on duty than at the start of the year, meaning we are on course to hire two and half thousand extra frontline officers by the end of 2018.”

David Lidington, speech to CPC, 3 October 2017

To achieve a net increase of 2,500, the Government actually have hire 8,000 more staff by the end of 2018.

Michael Spurr, November 29th 2016, Justice Committee, Oral evidence: Prison reform, HC 548, http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/justice-committee/prison-reform/oral/46492.html

The latest workforce statistics reveal there has only been a net increase of 800 frontline staff since a recruitment drive was announced, with just 738 jobs offers so far for the rest of the year.

HMPPS workforce quarterly: June 2017, Annex: prison officer recruitment, 17 August 2017, https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/her-majestys-prison-and-probation-service-workforce-quarterly-june-2017

“And we are keeping them safer too – training staff to use body-worn cameras to deter assaults and capture evidence whenever they occur.”

David Lidington, speech to CPC, 3 October 2017

This was already announced in Prison white paper in November 2016.

“Following a pilot of body worn video cameras in 2015–16, funding has been made available for the roll-out of the cameras across the estate.”

MoJ, Prison Safety and Reform white paper, 3 November 2016, https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/565014/cm-9350-prison-safety-and-reform-_web_.pdf

And in a crackdown on violent prisoners in 2015.

MoJ press release, 25 February 2015 - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-rules-to-crackdown-on-violent-prisoners-come-into-force

And in a crackdown on violent prisoners in 2014.

MoJ press release, 16 November 2014 - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/crackdown-on-violence-in-prisons

“We have stepped up the work within prison to contain dangerous extremists, opening separation units to stop our most toxic prisoners from being able to groom or intimidate others.”

David Lidington, speech to CPC, 3 October 2017

This was announced in April - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dangerous-extremists-to-be-separated-from-mainstream-prison-population

“And we’ve established a counter-intelligence unit to monitor and disrupt the evolving threat of extremism behind bars.”

David Lidington, speech to CPC, 3 October 2017

This was announced in April - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-counter-extremism-taskforce-to-help-tackle-extremism-behind-bars

“We also need probation to work better, so we have tough community sentences that command the confidence of the courts and the public.”

David Lidington, speech to CPC, 3 October 2017

The Tories split up probation services just three years ago.

MoJ, Transforming Rehabilitation, May 2013, https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/228744/8619.pdf  

Last year, the NAO found that staff in both the CRCs and the NPS considered that high workloads have reduced the supervision and training that they receive and the service they provide.

NAO, Transforming Rehabilitation, 20 April 2016, https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Transforming-rehabilitation.pdf 

The Public Accounts Committee concluded that the MoJ had yet to bring about the promised 'rehabilitation revolution'. It found there were "significant barriers" to encouraging innovative practice in rehabilitation in CRCs.

PAC, Transforming Rehabilitation, 23 September 2016, https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmpubacc/484/48402.htm?utm_source=484&utm_medium=fullbullet&utm_campaign=modulereports  

A joint report from HM Inspectorate of Probation and HM Inspectorate of Prisons concluded that nowhere near enough was being done to help offenders once they leave prison.

An Inspection of Through the Gate Resettlement Services for Short-term Prisoners, 4 October 2016, https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/cjji/inspections/throughthegate2016/  

While an inspection into London’s CRC found that some service users were not seen for weeks or months, and others were lost in the system altogether.

HM Inspector of Probation, December 2016, https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/12/North-of-London-QI.pdf  

The Chief Inspector of Probation said CRC staff were “overwhelmed by workloads while attempts to implement ‘half-baked’ new operating models had stalled”.

Dame Glenys Stacey, Justice Select Committee, Transforming Rehabilitation, Oral Evidence, 28 March 2017,https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/justice-committee/inquiries/parliament-2015/transforming-rehabilitation-16-17/publications/

“So I am pushing ahead with reform.”

David Lidington, speech to CPC, 3 October 2017

In August, David Lidington admitted that violence had gotten so bad he had paused reform.

“So my first priority is to improve safety and security, and then press ahead with prison reform.”

David Lidington, Evening Standard, 14 August 2017, https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/comment/prison-reform-must-also-factor-in-a-new-focus-on-rehabilitation-a3611251.html

“I am giving prison governors new powers over how their prisons are run. Next year, every governor will be given the power to tailor education and training to the needs of their prisoners. They’ll have more freedom to innovate, but they will also be held to account for the results of their work.”

David Lidington, speech to CPC, 3 October 2017

This was first mentioned by Michael Gove two years ago.

“I would like to give governors more flexibility in managing their budgets and overseeing work and education in custody. With greater freedom must come sharper accountability, so that governors are held to account for their prison’s performance.”

Michael Gove, Hansard, 3 November 2015, c. 854

This was due to happen this year but reforms to prison education have been put on hold, as existing offender learning contracts are being extended for another year.

FE Week, 24 June 2017, http://feweek.co.uk/2017/06/24/prison-education-reforms-on-hold-for-another-year /

“So I have set up a new taskforce, charged with responding promptly and publicly to inspection reports and following those through with action to put problems right – and if we disagree, providing a clear, public explanation.”

David Lidington, speech to CPC, 3 October 2017

The Tories dropped the Prisons and Courts Bill which would have done this by “strengthening  the functions of the Chief Inspector of Prisons by creating an Inspectorate and providing them with new statutory powers, and putting the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman on a statutory footing.”

MoJ, Prisons and Courts Bill 2017, explanatory notes, https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/2016-2017/0145/en/17145en.pdf

Something the Chief Inspector noted when criticised the Govt’s decision to drop the Bill.

“This is a missed opportunity to forge ahead with prison reform. The law would have required the government to respond to our findings.”

Peter Clarke, Independent, 21 June 2017, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/queens-speech-latest-chief-inspector-prisons-their-name-furious-reform-theresa-may-legislative-a7800851.html

“new investment of £64 million to entrench reform of youth custody.”

David Lidington, speech to CPC, 3 October 2017

The MoJ spent £68.9m on improving youth justice in 2016-17.

During the year the Department has provided funding to the following programmes:

           £68.9 million to Youth Justice Good Practice;

MoJ, Annual Report 2016-17, 7 July 2017, p53, https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/630239/moj-annual-report-2016-17.pdf

There are also questions over whether this is simply restating the £63.5m provided by the MoJ/YJB for juvenile funding in 2016-17.

NOMS Annual Report, 19 July 2017, p122, https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/630533/6.3329_NOMS_AR_180717_19_July_web.pdf

“We will boost the number of frontline staff in youth offender institutions by 20% – that’s 120 additional recruits, including newly trained specialist youth justice workers, equipped to tackle the needs of young offenders.”

David Lidington, speech to CPC, 3 October 2017

This has been announced several times.

“In response to Charlie Taylor’s review of the youth justice system last December, the Government acknowledged the serious issues that the youth justice system faces, which is why we are reforming the system. Let me give three examples of the progress that we are making. We have created a new youth custody service, with an executive director, for the first time in the department’s history. The development of a new youth justice specialist officer role ensures that more staff can be specifically trained to work with young people, boosting the numbers on operational frontlines in YOIs by 20% and recruiting workers specifically trained to work within the youth sector. The introduction of a more individualised approach for young people is focused on education and health, enhancing the workforce, improving governance and developing the secure estate.”

Lord Keen, Hansard, 19 July 2017, c. 1636, https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2017-07-19/debates/26AFD589-2644-45BB-9516-8D8689BA45A0/PrisonsAndYouthCustodyCentresSafety

“Boost the numbers of staff on the operational frontline in Young Offender

Institutions (YOIs) by 20%”

Govt response to Harris Review, December 2016, https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/576554/youth-justice-review-government-response-print.pdf

“£15 million to boost frontline staff by 20 percent and improve safety”.

MoJ press release, 11 December 2016, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/justice-secretary-plans-to-put-education-at-the-heart-of-youth-justice

“That’s why I am today announcing a new national task force – the New Futures Network – to match offenders with employers and make sure training in prisons mirrors the demands in the local jobs market.”

This was originally proposed by RSA in the summer.

The RSA's New Futures Network proposal, submitted to the Ministry of Justice, 1 August 2017, https://www.thersa.org/discover/publications-and-articles/reports/rsas-new-futures-network-proposal-submitted-to-ministry-of-justice

It’s also not clear how it would be different from the Employers’ Forum for Reducing Reoffending (EFFRR) - a group of local and national employers that provide job opportunities for offenders (http://apm-uk.co.uk/justice/employers-forum-for-reducing-re-offending-effrr/effrr-homepage/).   

Ministers have previously supported the work of this body.

EFFRR event at HMP Ford

MoJ press release, 12 May 2016, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/businesses-gather-at-ford-prison-to-find-out-about-employing-ex-offenders

EFFRR event at HMP/YOI Kirklevington Grange.

MoJ press release, 21 April 2016,  https://www.gov.uk/government/news/employers-to-help-offenders-find-employment-on-release

“Providing prisoners with employment is an important factor in preventing reoffending. In the Employers Forum for Reducing Reoffending, we have around 200 employers who are positive about employing ex-offenders. Working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions, we are developing plans to increase the involvement of businesses locally and nationally, and community rehabilitation companies should play an important role in making those links with businesses locally to help ex-offenders to get jobs.”

Andrew Selous, Hansard, 3 November 2015, c. 857

2012 “overhaul” of employment support for prisoners - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-launches-employment-support-for-prisoners

David Lidington did not mention a strategy on female offending as promised in February.

“You asked about our plans for women’s community prisons. A strategy setting out how we will improve the safety and reform of female offenders in custody and in the community will be published in Summer 2017.”

Sam Gyimah, letter to Chair of Justice Select Committee, 28 February 2017, https://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/treasury/Correspondence/Letter-dated-28-Feb-2017-from-Sam-Gyimah-on-Prison-safety-and-reform.pdf