This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-politics-13847999

The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 12 Version 13
Prison term discount plan 'too lenient', says Cameron Prison term discount plan 'too lenient', says Cameron
(about 2 hours later)
Allowing prisoners who pleaded guilty at the earliest stage up to 50% off their sentences would have been "too lenient", David Cameron has said.Allowing prisoners who pleaded guilty at the earliest stage up to 50% off their sentences would have been "too lenient", David Cameron has said.
The prime minister has confirmed the controversial proposal for England and Wales had been dropped, in the face of criticism from judges and others.The prime minister has confirmed the controversial proposal for England and Wales had been dropped, in the face of criticism from judges and others.
Amid claims of a U-turn, he said making changes could be a "sign of strength".Amid claims of a U-turn, he said making changes could be a "sign of strength".
The government had consulted on the proposal to extend the 33% discount as part of sentencing reforms.The government had consulted on the proposal to extend the 33% discount as part of sentencing reforms.
Other reforms in the sentencing and legal aid bill, to be published later, include: Other reforms in the sentencing and legal aid bill, href="http://www.justice.gov.uk/consultations/legal-aid-reform.htm" >poutlined by the government, include:
  • Prisoners will be made to work harder, longer, and pay more compensation to their victims
  • Cuts to the legal aid budget
  • Mandatory prison sentences for over-18s who threaten someone with a knife
  • Consultation on a new criminal offence of squatting
  • Review of the "indeterminate" prison terms - introduced under Labour
  • Writing into law that homeowners and shopkeepers who use reasonable force to defend property or themselves will not be prosecuted
  • Prisoners will be made to work harder, longer, and pay more compensation to their victims
  • Cuts to the legal aid budget - which will no longer be routinely available for most private family law, immigration and other cases
  • Mandatory prison sentences for adults who threaten someone with a knife
  • Consultation on a new criminal offence of squatting
  • New prison wings designed to get offenders off drink and drugs to be piloted
  • Review of the "indeterminate" prison terms - introduced under Labour
  • Writing into law that homeowners and shopkeepers who use reasonable force to defend property or themselves will not be prosecuted
At a press conference on Tuesday, Mr Cameron confirmed the controversial 50% discount proposal was being dropped altogether.At a press conference on Tuesday, Mr Cameron confirmed the controversial 50% discount proposal was being dropped altogether.
"For the most serious crimes, we've concluded this would certainly not be right. The sentence served would depart far too much from the sentence handed down by the judge, and this is simply not acceptable," he said."For the most serious crimes, we've concluded this would certainly not be right. The sentence served would depart far too much from the sentence handed down by the judge, and this is simply not acceptable," he said.
For less serious crimes he said: "The sentence would be too lenient, the wrong message would be sent out to the criminal and it would erode public confidence in the system."For less serious crimes he said: "The sentence would be too lenient, the wrong message would be sent out to the criminal and it would erode public confidence in the system."
But he rejected suggestions it was a U-turn by the government - which had backed the proposal up to last month.But he rejected suggestions it was a U-turn by the government - which had backed the proposal up to last month.
Downing Street denies any U-turn on sentencing, but that's getting off on a technicality. Whatever you think of Ken Clarke's politics and policies, it's impossible not to admire the confidence, indeed the sheer brass neck of the man.
Their defence? You can't reverse a policy until it is one. In the Commons, the justice secretary has had the difficult job of defending the retreat on sentence discounts which the press have universally hailed as a defeat and humiliation for him.
Even so, Ken Clarke liked the idea of halving sentences for even serious crimes like rape, and has pointedly told MPs the Cabinet signed off the consultation. You wouldn't think so to watch him in action. He told one Labour backbencher that he'd executed plenty of U-turns in his time and they should always be performed with "purpose and panache when you have to do them."
Today the Government is backing away even more comprehensively than expected. Why? The Clarke giggle was in evidence as he claimed he hadn't U-turned at all and was in fact leading a radical reform of which the discounts were one part.
The notion of 50% discounts on a sentence in exchange for an early admission of guilty has already been savaged-in-anticipation by Fleet Street's most read newspapers, it has divided opinion even among penal reformers and, crucially, polls suggest it would have angered and upset a large slice of the electorate. The final package was better balanced, he said, the butter in his mouth freezing solid.
Crime is consistently is the top two or three concerns among voters. Speaker John Bercow chimed in, remarking that the Opposition front bench, who were convulsed with laughter, seemed to have been covered in tickling powder.
David Cameron - and this outcome was determined in Downing Street - has no intention of ceding ground to Labour on the issue of law and order if he can avoid it.
"Being strong is about being prepared to admit you didn't get everything right the first time, you are going to improve it and make it better," said Mr Cameron."Being strong is about being prepared to admit you didn't get everything right the first time, you are going to improve it and make it better," said Mr Cameron.
He said he had changed his mind because, having looked at the figures, it was apparent that the proposal was more about cutting sentences rather than speeding up the court process.He said he had changed his mind because, having looked at the figures, it was apparent that the proposal was more about cutting sentences rather than speeding up the court process.
But he backed Justice Secretary Ken Clarke as an "extremely effective minister" and a "very tough secretary of state" who had a hugely difficult job to do.But he backed Justice Secretary Ken Clarke as an "extremely effective minister" and a "very tough secretary of state" who had a hugely difficult job to do.
He also said there would be a review of the controversial "indeterminate" sentences for prisoners held for "public protection", who currently have no automatic right to be released.He also said there would be a review of the controversial "indeterminate" sentences for prisoners held for "public protection", who currently have no automatic right to be released.
Mr Cameron said that system was "inconsistent and uncertain" and would be replaced by a new system involving more life sentences and no automatic release at the halfway point for serious, sexual and violent offenders.Mr Cameron said that system was "inconsistent and uncertain" and would be replaced by a new system involving more life sentences and no automatic release at the halfway point for serious, sexual and violent offenders.
Instead the Parole Board would judge when it was safe for them to be released, at least two-thirds of the way through their sentence.Instead the Parole Board would judge when it was safe for them to be released, at least two-thirds of the way through their sentence.
Mr Cameron said the current prison system was "failing and badly needs reform" - with half of prisoners reoffending within a year of release, many on drugs and many spending up to 23 hours a day in their cells. He said the current prison system was "failing and badly needs reform" - with half of prisoners reoffending within a year of release, many on drugs and many spending up to 23 hours a day in their cells.
"My mission is to make sure that families can feel safe in their homes and they can walk the streets freely and without fear," Mr Cameron."My mission is to make sure that families can feel safe in their homes and they can walk the streets freely and without fear," Mr Cameron.
"We want prisons to be places of punishment with a purpose, instead of prisoners setting in their cells. We will require them to work hard and reform themselves.""We want prisons to be places of punishment with a purpose, instead of prisoners setting in their cells. We will require them to work hard and reform themselves."
He added: "We will always pay the costs necessary to protect the public and to punish criminals."
Rape casesRape cases
Up to last month ministers were talking about the possibility of extending the existing 33% "discount" on jail sentences in England and Wales to 50%. The proposal to extend the 33% discount to 50% had come in for sustained criticism from sections of the media, which intensified after Mr Clarke, in an interview defending the notion that rapists could get the discount, appeared to suggest that some rape cases were more serious than others.
But it came in for sustained criticism from sections of the media, which intensified after Justice Secretary Ken Clarke, in an interview defending the notion that rapists could get a 50% discount, appeared to suggest that some rape cases were more serious than others.
He said later he had used the wrong choice of words and said he was sorry to have caused upset.He said later he had used the wrong choice of words and said he was sorry to have caused upset.
On Tuesday morning Mr Clarke said while there had been some changes it was not a U-turn but a "perfectly balanced package of radical reform which is very necessary". He will confirm the contents of the bill to MPs later. Announcing the proposals to MPs on Tuesday, Mr Clarke said he had hoped to salvage part of the plan by allowing judges more discretion but conceded "we could not make that work".
He had clashed with Conservative backbenchers over the policy - Tory backbencher Philip Davies had urged him to stand down as justice secretary so the party could "restore our reputation as a party of law and order".
The government wants to cut the cost of the prison budget and reduce the number of people in prison in England and Wales by 3,000 by 2014. The Ministry of Justice is having its budget cut by 25% in real terms by 2014-15. The 50% discount proposal would have saved more than £100m.The government wants to cut the cost of the prison budget and reduce the number of people in prison in England and Wales by 3,000 by 2014. The Ministry of Justice is having its budget cut by 25% in real terms by 2014-15. The 50% discount proposal would have saved more than £100m.
The BBC understands that Mr Clarke will not be forced to find the money in his budget until later in the four-year spending review cycle. The BBC understands that Mr Clarke will not have to find the money in his budget until later in the four-year spending review cycle.
Mr Cameron said it would be found in "efficiencies" and that the Probation Service had suffered less in cuts so far than the police - indicating it might be subject to further cuts.
In the impact assessment of its proposals, the Ministry of Justice predicts that overall the number of prisoners could fall by 2,650 but it has not yet calculated the impact of keeping serious sexual and violent criminals in prison for longer or the proposed new mandatory life sentence for most serious repeat offenders.
Labour, which introduced the 33% discount when in government, say the plans to halve sentences were cost-driven and lacked public support.Labour, which introduced the 33% discount when in government, say the plans to halve sentences were cost-driven and lacked public support.
Labour leader Ed Miliband said: "The public were rightly appalled that the government was proposing that people who committed rape should see their sentences cut by 50% and be let out within as little as 15 months. Shadow Justice Secretary Sadiq Khan said the government's approach to crime was about "cutting costs despite the impact they could have on communities up and down the country".
"Now the prime minister has to ask how did he get himself into the position of making a proposal which wasn't thought through. It is yet another example of this government not being in touch with people and making proposals which they then have to abandon." He said the government had "seen sense" on the 50% proposal - but asked why the prime minister had "ditched the proposal when the government was so wedded to it just a matter of weeks ago?"
Labour leader Ed Miliband said: "The prime minister has to ask how did he get himself into the position of making a proposal which wasn't thought through. It is yet another example of this government not being in touch with people and making proposals which they then have to abandon."