Early prisoner release shows Government failure (Cambridge Liberal Democrats)

Cambridge Liberal Democrats <camlibdems@gmail.com>

Early prisoner release shows Government failure

July 23, 2007 10:37 AM

Shadow Solicitor General and Cambridge MP David Howarth has condemned the Government's failed criminal justice policies.

David commented:

"The Government's criminal justice policies have failed. The prisons are full and prisoners are being released from prison early to ease the overcrowding. Now the government is admitting that they don't know for how long they will need to continue the early release scheme.

"The Government needs to realise that an overcrowded prison population is not a sign of success but one of failure.

"We already have the highest prison population in western Europe yet the Government is committed to simply building more prison places rather than addressing the real flaws in their policies.

"We also have the worst reoffending rates in Europe. We need to make prison work by making education and work compulsory and ensuring that non-violent criminals work in their local community to make amends for their crimes."