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| Inmate reoffending 'costs £10bn' | Inmate reoffending 'costs £10bn' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Reoffending by thousands of criminals serving short prison terms in England and Wales costs the taxpayer up to £10bn a year, a report has said. | Reoffending by thousands of criminals serving short prison terms in England and Wales costs the taxpayer up to £10bn a year, a report has said. |
| The National Audit Office found many prisoners were spending all day in their cells, rather than being engaged in training and rehabilitation. | |
| It added there was also "little evidence" the risk of short-sentence prisoners reoffending had been reduced. | It added there was also "little evidence" the risk of short-sentence prisoners reoffending had been reduced. |
| The government said it would take the report's recommendations forward. | The government said it would take the report's recommendations forward. |
| Of all those in jail, prisoners serving less than a year have the highest reoffending rates and the most convictions, an average of 16. | Of all those in jail, prisoners serving less than a year have the highest reoffending rates and the most convictions, an average of 16. |
| Around 60,000 prisoners are jailed for less than 12 months each year, costing taxpayers £300m. | Around 60,000 prisoners are jailed for less than 12 months each year, costing taxpayers £300m. |
| They make up nearly one in 10 prisoners in England and Wales and are mostly convicted of theft and minor violent crimes. | They make up nearly one in 10 prisoners in England and Wales and are mostly convicted of theft and minor violent crimes. |
| 'Inadequate activities' | 'Inadequate activities' |
| Most spend as few as 45 days inside, and are released automatically at the halfway point of their sentence. | Most spend as few as 45 days inside, and are released automatically at the halfway point of their sentence. |
| But in that time they are not given "appropriate assistance" to help them turn around their lives, the report said. | But in that time they are not given "appropriate assistance" to help them turn around their lives, the report said. |
| The NAO found that activities for this group of offenders were "inadequate". About half were not involved in work or courses and spent almost all day in their cells. | The NAO found that activities for this group of offenders were "inadequate". About half were not involved in work or courses and spent almost all day in their cells. |
| The report concludes that short jail terms do not offer value for money. A six-week spell in prison costs £4,500 - £300 more than a highly-intensive two-year community order involving unpaid work and rehabilitation schemes. | The report concludes that short jail terms do not offer value for money. A six-week spell in prison costs £4,500 - £300 more than a highly-intensive two-year community order involving unpaid work and rehabilitation schemes. |
| The revolving door of prison and crime costs the taxpayer billions and does little or nothing to reduce offending Juliet Lyon Prison Reform Trust | The revolving door of prison and crime costs the taxpayer billions and does little or nothing to reduce offending Juliet Lyon Prison Reform Trust |
| The auditors praised the efforts of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), which runs prisons and probation, in keeping them safe - despite overcrowding. | The auditors praised the efforts of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), which runs prisons and probation, in keeping them safe - despite overcrowding. |
| But they warned 60% of short-sentenced prisoners commit another crime within a year of getting out, costing the country between £7bn and £10bn a year. | But they warned 60% of short-sentenced prisoners commit another crime within a year of getting out, costing the country between £7bn and £10bn a year. |
| Amyas Morse, head of the NAO, said "Achieving NOMS' goal of reducing reoffending by short-sentenced prisoners is challenging both because there are so many prisoners and because of the few weeks they have in custody. | Amyas Morse, head of the NAO, said "Achieving NOMS' goal of reducing reoffending by short-sentenced prisoners is challenging both because there are so many prisoners and because of the few weeks they have in custody. |
| "However, it is reasonable to expect progress towards that goal. More coherent plans for prisoners, tailored to reducing their risk of reoffending, would be a good first step." | "However, it is reasonable to expect progress towards that goal. More coherent plans for prisoners, tailored to reducing their risk of reoffending, would be a good first step." |
| Phil Wheatley, director general of the NOMS, said: "I welcome the NAO report, which I have studied with interest, and the National Offender Management Service will take the recommendations forward." | Phil Wheatley, director general of the NOMS, said: "I welcome the NAO report, which I have studied with interest, and the National Offender Management Service will take the recommendations forward." |
| Rehabilitation | Rehabilitation |
| Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said: "The revolving door of prison and crime costs the taxpayer billions and does little or nothing to reduce offending. | Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said: "The revolving door of prison and crime costs the taxpayer billions and does little or nothing to reduce offending. |
| "The evidence is clear that community penalties, treatment for addicts, mental healthcare and sorting out housing and employment all work better than a short prison sentence." | "The evidence is clear that community penalties, treatment for addicts, mental healthcare and sorting out housing and employment all work better than a short prison sentence." |
| Jon Collins, campaign director of the Criminal Justice Alliance, said: "Instead of spending more money in a futile attempt to make these short sentences work better, the government should instead focus on keeping more of these people out of custody, freeing up space and resources in the prison estate to better rehabilitate those people who do need to be there." | Jon Collins, campaign director of the Criminal Justice Alliance, said: "Instead of spending more money in a futile attempt to make these short sentences work better, the government should instead focus on keeping more of these people out of custody, freeing up space and resources in the prison estate to better rehabilitate those people who do need to be there." |
| The Tories said the report was a "damning indictment of Labour's prison failure" and pledged to introduce a "rehabilitation revolution". | The Tories said the report was a "damning indictment of Labour's prison failure" and pledged to introduce a "rehabilitation revolution". |