US-style “supermax” prisons might be launched in Britain to accommodate probably the most harmful offenders, following a string of violent incidents involving inmates, the prisons minister has revealed.
In line with Sky Information, James Timpson mentioned “we should not rule something out” when requested whether or not the UK ought to contemplate constructing top-security jails much like these utilized in America to comprise high-risk criminals.
His feedback got here after a disturbing incident at HMP Belmarsh final week, wherein triple killer Axel Rudakubana allegedly scalded a jail officer by throwing boiling water from a kettle. The assault is now below police investigation.
In a separate surprising case, three officers have been allegedly focused by Hashem Abedi – the brother of Manchester Enviornment bomber Salman Abedi – who reportedly used sizzling cooking oil and “improvised knives”, presumably long-established from a baking tray.
Talking to Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge from HMP Preston, Mr Timpson acknowledged the disaster engulfing UK prisons and known as for decisive motion.
“We inherited a whole mess within the jail system. Violence is up, assaults on workers is up. However for me, we should not rule something out,” he mentioned.
The previous Timpson Group CEO, who grew to become prisons minister final 12 months, confused the significance of listening to frontline staff. “What we have to do is to talk to our workers. They’re the consultants at coping with these offenders day in, day trip.”
Mr Timpson admitted that violence in prisons was “too excessive” and pointed to overcrowding and a scarcity of significant exercise as key drivers.
“The variety of folks when you may have prisons are so full, and the folks in there will not be going to schooling or into purposeful exercise… you get extra violence and that’s completely unacceptable,” he mentioned. “Our workers flip as much as work to assist flip folks. They need to flip folks’s lives round. They didn’t flip as much as work to get assaulted. It’s completely unacceptable.”
As the federal government prepares for a sweeping evaluation of sentencing coverage, Mr Timpson highlighted power points akin to drug dependancy, homelessness, and psychological well being issues amongst ex-offenders.
He mentioned: “80% of offending is reoffending. Persons are leaving locations like HMP Preston hooked on medication, nowhere to dwell, psychological well being issues – and that is why they preserve coming again.”
Requested whether or not each jail within the nation struggles with drug points, the minister was unequivocal: “100%.”
He added: “If we need to preserve the general public secure, we have to do much more of the work in right here and in the neighborhood. But additionally we have to construct extra prisons.”
