Make more use of open prisons, former minister David Gauke says
Britain should make “greater use of open prisons” to avoid overcrowding and reduce re-offending, those leading the government’s sentencing review have suggested.
David Gauke tells the times “We are running out of space” in prisons and there is an “opportunity” for the system to change if prisoners are given more freedom to leave prison during the day to study and work.
The former Conservative justice minister has been summoned by the government to review sentencing and address overcrowding.
He made the remarks after visiting three prisons in Spain, where reforms have seen 25% of prisoners placed in open prisons.
He said the policy saved money and made prisoners better prepared for release, making them less likely to reoffend.
Gauck served as Justice Minister in Theresa May’s cabinet from January 2018 to July 2019.
Earlier this year he was appointed to lead the government sentencing reviewThe abolition of short sentences and the strengthening of community orders are expected to be considered as alternatives to prison.
The review was a pledge in Labour’s manifesto, which also appointed Lord Timpson as prisons minister. Lord Timpson is the former head of Keychain, which employs ex-offenders, and is director of the Prison Reform Trust.
“I think there is a growing recognition that we have gone down a path of increasing sentences, which does nothing to reduce crime but imposes huge costs,” Gauke told The Times.
“It’s not about being soft on crime, it’s about being more effective in reducing crime.”
The government has Already published 5,500 prisoners made emergency plans in advance to free up cells and stop the justice system collapsing, and a sentencing review was announced aimed at delivering more non-custodial sentences.
The policy will be reviewed within 18 months.
The Ministry of Justice has committed to creating a total of 14,000 cells in prisons by 2031.
Around 6,400 of them will be housed in the new prisons, which will cost £2.3 billion over the next two years.
But in early December, Justice Minister Shabana Mahmood told BBC Radio 4’s Today program that simply building more prisons would not solve the overcrowding crisis.
Asked whether there would be a shortage of cells within three years even with 14,000 extra cells, Mahmoud said: “We will run out because even with all the new supply we will see an increase in the prison population. New “Supply doesn’t help you cope with demand growth because demand is still growing faster than any supply can grow.”
Gauck also said that building more prisons is not the answer to the problem. A more “strategic” approach is needed to free up space.
The sentencing review is expected to make recommendations in the spring.
