Time Spent in Cells Reoffending Rates 2024-02-20
2024-02-20
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
Discussion about the potential long-term effects of prisoners spending extended periods in their cells, and how it might affect rehabilitation.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the length of time that prisoners spend in their cells on reoffending rates.?
We know that activities such as education and training can help to give prisoners skills that they need to get a job on release, thus reducing the likelihood of reoffending. That is why we launched our new national regime model for prisoners last month. It sets out core expectations for regime delivery, so that prisons are getting the most out of the working day and aiding the rehabilitation of prisoners. Of course, we are also seeing improved staffing numbers to facilitate those regimes.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Discussion about the high cost of reoffending, which is £18 billion annually. Concerns over lack of time for rehabilitation among young offenders.
Reoffending costs £18 billion a year, but there is not just the financial cost but the impact on society in general, as well as on the individual. Some young prisoners are still getting only one hour out of their cells, so there is no time for rehabilitation—they can perhaps do a little exercise, but that is not the same. How confident is the Minister that all young prisoners will get the re-education that he has outlined? When does he think all young prisoners—if these people have to be in prison—will get proper rehabilitation and the support they need when they come out of prison to get a home, to have somewhere to stay and to go into further training?
I am grateful to the hon. Lady for that. As she knows, I have a huge amount of respect for her, and she raises a hugely important point. We have heard from the Lord Chancellor that reoffending rates have come down from 31% to 25% since 2010. So we are making progress, but we want to drive them down further. She also rightly highlights the importance of purposeful activity leading to the opportunity on release for employment, accommodation and so on. That is central to the opportunity for prisoners to rehabilitate themselves.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not provide a timeline or specific actions to ensure young prisoners get proper rehabilitation and support upon release.
We Are Making Progress
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Concerns over chronic staff shortages and sickness absence affecting prisoner rehabilitation activities.
I welcome the Minister's acknowledgement that more education in prisons means cutting the reoffending rate and that clear link to crime. I welcome the national regime model and will be interested to see how it plays out, because I have seen chronic staff shortages and sickness absence, in particular at prisons such as HMP Wandsworth, which I have visited. Those things mean that prisoners are entirely missing out on any education, training and working opportunities. When will I be able to go back to HMP Wandsworth and see the increase in staff and retention that is needed there?
Again, I have a lot of respect for the hon. Lady, but I am afraid that what she is suggesting does not entirely reflect the facts. If we compare the figures for 2023 and 2022 for band 3 to 5 prison officers, we see that there are over 1,400 more now, which is an increase of 6.7%. In HMPPS, sick rates are down in the past year, when just over 12,500 people joined and 7,500 left—again, that reflects an increase.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not address the specific issue of chronic staff shortages at HMP Wandsworth.
Does Not Entirely Reflect The Facts
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
Discussion about retaining newly trained prison officers to ensure they can implement rehabilitation activities effectively.
I am encouraged by my right hon. Friend's comments about the number of additional prison officers recruited. I have seen many of them and the fantastic work they do, both at HMP Aylesbury and across the prison estate. Will he say a little more about how we can ensure that we retain them once they have been trained and they go on to the wings?
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that. He is absolutely right about the importance of not just recruiting new prison officers, but retaining experienced ones in our prisons. That is why the pay deal done last year with HMPPS staff was hugely important, in recognising the important work that prison officers do day in, day out.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not provide specific details on how retention will be ensured for newly recruited officers.
Importance Of Retaining Experienced Ones
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
Discussion about prisoners spending up to 23 hours a day in their cells due to overcrowding and capacity issues.
Prisoners are spending up to 23 hours a day locked up in their cells as a direct result of overcrowding and the prisons capacity crisis caused by this Government. However, I hear congratulations are in order following an announcement last month, not on the Government actually delivering any of the new prisons they have promised or on even getting spades in the ground, but on their submitting yet another planning application for the Leicestershire prison that the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has already ruled on once.
For a moment I thought the shadow Justice Secretary was referring to her own party's record when in government—7,500 prison places in three Titan prisons that failed to be built, whereas we are committed to building six new modern prisons. Two have been built, one is being built at the moment and two have planning permission.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not address the issue of prisoners spending up to 23 hours a day in their cells due to overcrowding.
Referring To Labour'S Record
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
Concerns over the lack of information on early prisoner releases despite multiple requests.
While prisoners are serving their sentence, they are not being allowed to leave their cell, but ironically the Government are also releasing some of them early. Despite a multitude of letters, questions and even a point-blank request from the Justice Committee, the Government are refusing to tell us how many prisoners are being released early and from where. The public and Parliament have a right to know, so will the Minister finally come clean on how the early release scheme has been used so far?
As the shadow Justice Secretary will know, my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has made clear that in line with other statistics, for example death in custody statistics, we will publish those figures on an annual basis.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not provide information about early releases immediately but stated they would be published annually.
Publishing Figures On An Annual Basis
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from the belief that outdoor activities such as farming and horticulture can aid in the rehabilitation of prisoners. Recent years have seen changes to prison estates.
I am sure my right hon. Friend will agree with me that the rehabilitation of offenders can be greatly assisted by activity and work outdoors, in particular on farms and at horticultural establishments. Will the Minister reassure me that he is committed to increasing the quantity of work available outdoors and let me know what has happened to the prison estates in recent years?
My hon. Friend is right to highlight the importance of a range of purposeful activity for those in prison, from skilled industrial work in workshops to outside work. A good example mentioned recently on “ITV Racing”, of all things, was about getting farriers and those working in the equine world into prisons—the example was a prison in Solihull—to teach prisoners about job opportunities in the equine world. There are a range of opportunities out there, and it is important that they are available to those in our custody.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask for commitment to increase outdoor work and details on changes to prison estates were not directly addressed with concrete commitments or figures.
Highlighting A Range Of Opportunities Without Specifics
Response accuracy