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Resignation adds to Reid pressure Resignation adds to Reid pressure
(about 1 hour later)
Pressure on home secretary John Reid has increased after it emerged the head of the Youth Justice Board (YJB), Professor Rod Morgan, has quit. Pressure on Home Secretary John Reid has grown after the head of the Youth Justice Board of England and Wales quit over policy on young offenders.
Prof Morgan attacked Labour's young offenders policy and said children's prisons were being "swamped". Rod Morgan said the system was being "swamped" by minor offenders and warned of a looming "crisis" in prison places.
Mr Reid is already under pressure after calling for judges to avoid jailing all but the most serious offenders in a bid to ease prison overcrowding. The Home Office dismissed Mr Morgan's claims and said it "made no apology" for tackling anti-social behaviour.
A judge said he did not jail a man who had downloaded child porn as a result. Mr Reid is already under fire after calling for judges to avoid jailing all but the most serious offenders.
In an exclusive interview given to BBC Two's Newsnight, Prof Morgan, said youth courts and children's prisons are being "swamped" with minor offenders who are "cluttering up" the system. A judge said he did not jail a man who had downloaded child porn as a result, sparking fierce opposition criticism.
In an exclusive interview given to BBC Two's Newsnight, Mr Morgan, said youth courts and children's prisons are being overrun with minor offenders who are "cluttering up" the system.
'Swamping''Swamping'
Echoing the crisis with adult prisoner places, he told Newsnight "we're standing on the brink of a prisons crisis. We have tonight lots of people in police cells because there is no space for them in custody and that's true for children and young people also. Echoing the crisis with adult prisoner places, the professer told Newsnight: "We're standing on the brink of a prisons crisis.
"We have tonight lots of people in police cells because there is no space for them in custody and that's true for children and young people also.
"I regard a 26% increase in the number of children and young people that are being drawn into the system in the past three years as swamping", he said."I regard a 26% increase in the number of children and young people that are being drawn into the system in the past three years as swamping", he said.
Prof Morgan became Chair of the Youth Justice Board in April 2004. Mr Morgan became Chair of the Youth Justice Board in April 2004.
He was formerly HM Chief Inspector of Probation for England and Wales, a post he took up in August 2001.He was formerly HM Chief Inspector of Probation for England and Wales, a post he took up in August 2001.
Porn sentence 'Demonised'
The Home Office said Mr Morgan had been given an opportunity to re-apply for his job at the end of his first three year term but had declined.
A spokeswoman hit back at Mr Morgan's criticisms of the youth justice system.
"We refute the claim that young people are being demonised and criminalised. Considerable emphasis has been placed on providing activities for young people."
But she added: "We remain unapolagetic about the need to tackle anti-social behaviour by anyone, regardless of their age."
Porn case
Mr Morgan's resignation follows opposition attacks on the home secretary over a child pornography case.Mr Morgan's resignation follows opposition attacks on the home secretary over a child pornography case.
Derek Williams, 46, of Blaenau Ffestiniog, told the BBC he was "lucky to be out" but added: "You cannot blame the judge for what he has done. His hands are tied. He was only doing his job." Derek Williams, 46, of Blaenau Ffestiniog, pleaded guilty to 10 charges of making indecent photographs between November 2005 and May last year.
His six-month term of imprisonment was suspended for two years. The court heard he had downloaded dozens of pornographic images of children on to his computer.
Mold Crown Court heard Williams had downloaded dozens of pornographic images of children on to his computer. But his six-month term of imprisonment was suspended for two years.
He pleaded guilty to 10 charges of making indecent photographs between November 2005 and May last year.
In sentencing Judge John Rogers QC said he had to bear in mind "the current sentencing climate".In sentencing Judge John Rogers QC said he had to bear in mind "the current sentencing climate".
This week, Mr Reid and other Cabinet ministers wrote to judges and magistrates asking them to imprison only the most dangerous and persistent criminals.This week, Mr Reid and other Cabinet ministers wrote to judges and magistrates asking them to imprison only the most dangerous and persistent criminals.
Prison shipsPrison ships
And on Thursday Mr Reid announced the latest emergency measures to deal with the prison crisis. And on Thursday Mr Reid announced emergency measures to deal with the prison crisis.
Jails in England and Wales are at bursting point, with about 80,000 inmates.Jails in England and Wales are at bursting point, with about 80,000 inmates.
Mr Reid revealed an RAF camp in the north of England is to be used to house convicts, and he is also in negotiations over the purchase of two prison ships.Mr Reid revealed an RAF camp in the north of England is to be used to house convicts, and he is also in negotiations over the purchase of two prison ships.
Construction has also started on prefabricated units to go into a prison in Merseyside.Construction has also started on prefabricated units to go into a prison in Merseyside.
The Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, said the letter to judges was not intended to change sentencing principles, but to set out the current context.The Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, said the letter to judges was not intended to change sentencing principles, but to set out the current context.
HAVE YOUR SAY Overcrowded and full prisons are indicative of a rapidly increasing crime rate Gordon, Southampton Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY Overcrowded and full prisons are indicative of a rapidly increasing crime rate Gordon, Southampton Send us your comments
Lord Falconer said the judges were not being put under pressure to alleviate prison over-crowding.Lord Falconer said the judges were not being put under pressure to alleviate prison over-crowding.
"It is our problem....We are not for one moment saying that it is a problem for judges to solve. We are all doing our bit in the system to help in the current circumstances.""It is our problem....We are not for one moment saying that it is a problem for judges to solve. We are all doing our bit in the system to help in the current circumstances."
'Public confidence'
Shadow home secretary David Davis said of the sentencing: "We now have a situation where sentences are being dictated by the prison capacity and not the severity of the crime.
"It looks like the consequences of the government's failure to address the lack of prison places is coming home to roost."
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said: "This is the inevitable domino effect of a government lurching about in blind panic trying to solve a prison overcrowding crisis of its own making."