The prison system in England and Wales is in an 'appalling' state of crisis, lacking decency or security and with no clear plan for change, MPs have warned. The justice committee, chaired by Conservative MP Bob Neill, condemned Boris Johnson's 'policy by press notice' approach to prisons, following a raft of announcements seen as electioneering tactics.
The committee criticised the lack of a clear plan for reform and a long-term strategy to 'reverse the fortunes' of the prison estate. It called for detailed plans on how the government would meet pledges to increase funding, including £2.5bn for 10,000 new prison places. Neill said: 'New prison places might be welcome, but they do nothing to improve the appalling condition of much of the current prison estate.'
The report highlighted that reoffending costs £18bn and that violence will not reduce without proper investment in rehabilitation. It also noted concerns over a near £1bn maintenance backlog and warned that longer sentences for some offenders could increase the prison population without guarantees to avoid overcrowding.
Peter Dawson of the Prison Reform Trust described the report as a 'scathing indictment of political failure'. Frances Crook of the Howard League for Penal Reform accused politicians of using prisons for 'personal political gain' and called for evidence-based policy. The Ministry of Justice defended its record, citing recruitment of 4,400 extra officers and investment in security and maintenance.
