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Prisons overhaul to be announced by David Cameron Prisons 'overhaul' announced by David Cameron
(about 2 hours later)
Six "reform prisons" are to be created in England in Wales as part of a government pilot scheme to tackle high levels of violence and re-offending. Six "reform prisons" are to be created in England and Wales as part of a pilot to tackle high levels of violence and re-offending, David Cameron has said.
Governors will have autonomy over their operation and budgets, while graduate teachers will be recruited for jails.Governors will have autonomy over their operation and budgets, while graduate teachers will be recruited for jails.
In a speech later, Prime Minister David Cameron is to say the "failure" of the current system is "scandalous". The prime minister also announced new powers to speed up the deportation of foreign inmates.
Penal charities said reforms would not work if inmates were "crammed into filthy institutions with no staff". Penal charities said reforms would not work if prisoners were "crammed into filthy institutions with no staff".
Downing Street said the creation of six "reform prisons" from existing jails would happen by the end of the year, although it did not name any locations. Downing Street said the creation of the "reform prisons" from existing jails would happen by the end of the year, although it did not name any locations.
Legislation is expected to follow, so the plans can be adopted more widely.Legislation is expected to follow, so the plans can be adopted more widely.
Mr Cameron will say that "current levels of prison violence, drug-taking and self-harm should shame us all", with a typical week seeing 600 incidents of self-harm, at least one suicide and 350 assaults including 90 on staff. Mr Cameron said "current levels of prison violence, drug-taking and self-harm should shame us all", with a typical week seeing 600 incidents of self-harm, at least one suicide and 350 assaults including 90 on staff.
He is also expected to say he is accepting the recommendations made in Dame Sally Coates's review of prison education, due to be published soon. In what he described as the "biggest shake-up of prisons since the Victorian era", he added prisoners should be seen as "potential assets to be harnessed" and the "failure of our system today is scandalous".
These include a promise to protect the £130m prison education budget. In other developments:
Meanwhile, former Liberal Democrat MP and education minister David Laws will help develop a new scheme through organisations such as TeachFirst to encourage new teachers to take up posts in prisons. Mr Cameron also said the government would accept the recommendations made in Dame Sally Coates's review of prison education, due to be published soon, including a promise to protect the £130m budget.
Former Liberal Democrat MP and education minister David Laws will help develop a new scheme through organisations such as TeachFirst to encourage graduates to take up teaching posts in prisons.
BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said it was highly unusual for a prime minister to take such a close interest in prison reform, but Mr Cameron wants to make it a "great progressive cause" in British politics.BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said it was highly unusual for a prime minister to take such a close interest in prison reform, but Mr Cameron wants to make it a "great progressive cause" in British politics.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said Mr Cameron's proposals were "only part of the equation - you have got to look at what drives crime". Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said Mr Cameron's proposals were "only part of the equation - you have got to look at what drives crime".
She said the focus on prisons by the government was long overdue but it would be a "really steep challenge to try and sort it out".She said the focus on prisons by the government was long overdue but it would be a "really steep challenge to try and sort it out".
Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: "Prisons are currently violent and overcrowded. As such, they fail everyone: victims, the public, staff and prisoners themselves.Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: "Prisons are currently violent and overcrowded. As such, they fail everyone: victims, the public, staff and prisoners themselves.
"Prison reform, however, is the tip of the iceberg.... We need action now to tackle sentence inflation and the profligate use of prison. Then the prime minister's vision can become a reality." "We need action now to tackle sentence inflation and the profligate use of prison. Then the prime minister's vision can become a reality."
Last month, the outgoing chief inspector of prisons in England and Wales said conditions in adult prisons had deteriorated over the past five years.Last month, the outgoing chief inspector of prisons in England and Wales said conditions in adult prisons had deteriorated over the past five years.
'Compassionate country''Compassionate country'
In his speech, the prime minister will announce prison governors will have control over the way they run their prisons, which he says will empower staff, drive up standards and cut reoffending. In his speech to the Policy Exchange think tank, the prime minister said governors would have control over the way they run their prisons. This would include "total discretion" on budgets, and the ability to opt out of some of the thousands of pages of rules and regulations set in Whitehall.
"We need prisons. Some people - including, of course, rapists, murderers, child abusers, gang leaders - belong in them," he will say. "We need prisons. Some people - including, of course, rapists, murderers, child abusers, gang leaders - belong in them," he said.
"For me, punishment - that deprivation of liberty - is not a dirty word." But he added: "I also strongly believe that we must offer chances to change; that for those trying hard to turn themselves around, we should offer hope; that in a compassionate country, we should help those who've made mistakes to find their way back onto the right path."
But he will add: "I also strongly believe that we must offer chances to change; that for those trying hard to turn themselves around, we should offer hope; that in a compassionate country, we should help those who've made mistakes to find their way back onto the right path." The prime minister said ministers would legislate to require foreign criminals to declare their nationality in court as presently this does not take place early enough "and this can hamper our ability to deport them".
Mr Cameron will say prisoners should be seen as "potential assets to be harnessed" and the "failure of our system today is scandalous". Shadow justice secretary Lord Falconer welcomed the government plans but said the "scandalous failure David Cameron condemns is his own".
He will highlight figures showing 46% of all prisoners re-offend within a year of release, and say that cycle of reoffending costs up to £13bn a year. He said: "The Tories have had five years to improve our prisons and we have heard promises of 'rehabilitation revolution' many times before. Instead, they have cut staff, closed effective jails, decreased transparency and presided over a crisis."
The plan to give prison governors more autonomy develops ideas floated by Justice Secretary Michael Gove last year. The plan to give prison governors more autonomy develops ideas floated by Justice Secretary Michael Gove last year. Prisoners who acquired new skills or qualifications could "earn" their release, Mr Gove suggested.
Citing the "success" of foundation hospitals and academy schools, he said giving governors a freer hand, especially over education, would allow them to be more imaginative and more demanding. The prime minister has already announced plans to find alternatives to custody for pregnant women or new mothers and confirmed that a pilot scheme to track offenders by satellite would launch later this year.
Prisoners who acquired new skills or qualifications could "earn" their release, Mr Gove suggested. And in November last year the government said nine new prisons would open in England and Wales under plans to close Victorian-era jails in a bid to save about £80m a year.
The prime minister has already announced plans to find alternatives to custody for pregnant women or new mothers and confirmed that a pilot scheme to track offenders by satellite will launch later this year.
And in November last year the government said nine new prisons will open in England and Wales under plans to close "Victorian" jails in a bid to save about £80m a year.
Are you affected by the issues raised in this story? Are you an ex-offender or prison employee? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co with your experiences.Are you affected by the issues raised in this story? Are you an ex-offender or prison employee? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co with your experiences.
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