Three new prisons being built

[Tizzi247]

I was pleased to hear that three new prisons are being built - its taken the government long enough to realise that we need more prisons. Its a shame only three are being built!

I wonder if the courts will now dish out the time to fit the crime. No wonder criminals can do what they like, they know the prisons are overcrowded and most judges don't seem to care about victims.

We should have zero-tolerance to crime, as New York has. I feel safer there than I ever have in this country. What do others think?

[excelsior]

i totally agree with you .. and i cannot add anything further exept - once these prisons are in operation, i find it hard to believe the judges will change their ways. what is required is an overhaul of the judicial system, and for this weak government to get tougher .. and make the judges tougher too.

[Gromit]

Under Labour, there has been a large increase in the number of people sent to prison. Unfortuantely, a large number that are there should not be there, including many Alcoholics and the mentally ill people.

You may have missed in all the fuss about the 3 new prisons, that the government plan to close some at the same time.

I want people who are dangerous and violent put in prison, not TV License dodgers and Council Tax evaders.

[Gromit]

RAGGY ROMAN

Are the all Alcoholic Muslims in prison, ex-cricketers. Are you any further remember who it was or finding a link?

[jno]

so, any volunteers to have these built in their own home towns?

[Gromit]

RAGGY ROMAN

If you know who it is, then it should be easy to find a profile or news item concerning his arrest. Are you sure there was a conviction?

[kwicky]

By building these 3 new prisons the government are admitting that crime will increase which goes against their spiel that crime is being tackled and even reduced.

Also most foreign criminals will be sent home to serve their sentences soon freeing up more space.

Nearly 40% of people locked up are suffering a form of mental illness. Should we be building more hospitals instead.

[sp1814]

Raggy

Here's a link:

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/article 3226395.ece

Unfortunately, I can't find anything to support your ascertation that the increase in prison numbers is directly related to the rise in immigration.

Perhaps you could furnish with evidence?

[sp1814]

Oh hell!

I've just done a calculation, and apparently the percentage of prisoners from ethnic minorities is 15%, and not the 20-25% previously stated on several threads here.

Why won't these newspapers and government departments realise that when they release facts like this, it simply clouds the issue.

From now on, I hope we can all agree that ,all prisoners are from ethnic minorities and those who look white only look like that because...errrm...because....they're Jamaican Yardie albinos.

How does that sound?

[Tizzi247]

Thank you all for your responses. I had missed the fact that the government plans to close some prisons, which I personally think is stupid.

I used to work at a criminal solicitors in Manchester, dealing with crown court and magistrates court cases. I have seen at first hand that the criminals don't give a t""ss about people they hurt, or about going to prison - its a game to them and the sooner the government give the court and police the powers they need, the better. If they don't, things are only going to get worse.

And to answer your question Jno, I do live in a city which has a prison - in fact, its for lifers and it doesn't bother me a bit.

[aims1202]

Gromit is right, it is pointless putting people in prison for minor offences, it just doesnt work. There are a lot who do not care about being put there, in fact for some its a holiday off of their 'work'.
Prison should only be for people who are a danger to the public. Drugs should be decriminalised, there should be more community service, more help for mental illness and more rehabilitation instead.

[ruby27]

fender62

What an original thought. Hopefully your insight to the problems and solutions to the perceived problems will be taken up Politicians and endorsed by the Country

Have you alerted anyone to this radically new way of considering the issues?

[fletcher.5]

OK under the present government the prison population has risen, however, just think back to 1996 when Michael Howard was the home secretary.
He introduced the, US mentality of, 3 strikes & your out policy, which was put on the statute book which, the following government had to follow.
Which now, Nivea man is trying to beat Mr Brown with.
The worst part about all this is, they think WE are all F----- idiots