Public and Private Prisons 2020-09-22
2020-09-22
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question addresses the levels of violence and staffing issues across different types of prisons. It highlights concerns about understaffing leading to higher violence rates.
What comparative assessment has been made of levels of (a) violence and (b) staffing in (i) public and (ii) private prisons? The MP is concerned about the link between prison understaffing and high levels of violence, questioning the effectiveness of current staffing measures and the impact on prisoner safety.
Levels of violence in our prisons remain too high but are on a downward trend. Assaults on staff decreased by 5% in the first quarter of this year and by a further 4% in the latest quarter, with decreases seen across both public and private estates. Staffing levels have improved with a net rise of almost 4,000 prison officers since 2016. However, no specific staffing figures are available for private prisons as performance is measured differently.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner asked specifically about staffing levels in private prisons and their link to violence, but the answer did not provide concrete staffing figures for private prisons despite acknowledging differences in measurement practices.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The question builds on the previous exchange, focusing on government policy regarding new private prison construction without staff number requirements or freedom of information obligations.
Thanking the Minister for her response, the MP expresses disappointment over the link between understaffing and high violence levels not being acknowledged by the Government. The questioner inquires about the rationale behind building new private prisons with no minimum staffing levels and without staff number disclosure requirements, questioning the transparency of such policies.
We have increased staff numbers in public sector prisons and introduced a key worker scheme. Private prisons perform well; recent reports from HMP Parc and HMP Rye Hill managed by G4S were judged to be good, indicating both types of prisons can work effectively without adhering to the same staffing standards.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner questioned why new private prisons are being built with no minimum staffing levels and FOI exemptions. The answer did not address this specific concern about new prison construction policies but instead discussed overall performance of current private prisons.
Response accuracy