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Prisoners' cash plan is condemned | Prisoners' cash plan is condemned |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A plan to pay prisoners from outside Europe a package of up to £2,500 to leave the UK has been criticised. | A plan to pay prisoners from outside Europe a package of up to £2,500 to leave the UK has been criticised. |
Home Secretary John Reid outlined the plan as part of a scheme to try and ease the UK's overcrowded prisons. | Home Secretary John Reid outlined the plan as part of a scheme to try and ease the UK's overcrowded prisons. |
But the £20m scheme was denounced as a "waste of taxpayers' money" by Mark Leech of the Prison Handbook, a guide to the England and Wales' penal system. | But the £20m scheme was denounced as a "waste of taxpayers' money" by Mark Leech of the Prison Handbook, a guide to the England and Wales' penal system. |
Both Tory and Lib Dems home affairs spokesmen criticised the plan, amid the use of police cells to house prisoners. | Both Tory and Lib Dems home affairs spokesmen criticised the plan, amid the use of police cells to house prisoners. |
'Bribe' and 'incompetence' | 'Bribe' and 'incompetence' |
Mr Leech said: ""This means the taxpayer will have to stump up around £20m to pay for this gimmick - it is completely insane and unfair and it should stop right now." | Mr Leech said: ""This means the taxpayer will have to stump up around £20m to pay for this gimmick - it is completely insane and unfair and it should stop right now." |
"I am outraged by this disgusting bribe. Prisoners in England and Wales receive a paltry £47 to last them a fortnight when they are released and yet foreign national prisoners are being bribed with 50 times that amount to leave the country." | "I am outraged by this disgusting bribe. Prisoners in England and Wales receive a paltry £47 to last them a fortnight when they are released and yet foreign national prisoners are being bribed with 50 times that amount to leave the country." |
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg called the plan a "bribe" and said Mr Reid was guilty of "Keystone Cops incompetence". | Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg called the plan a "bribe" and said Mr Reid was guilty of "Keystone Cops incompetence". |
By definition, these are not people who you can trust to be honest Shadow home secretary David Davis Cells plan to ease crisis href="/1/hi/uk/6035443.stm" class="">Foreign prisoners at large | |
"What has the Home Secretary been doing for the last six months if his efforts to solve the foreign prisoner crisis now amount to a vague pledge to sort the problem out by next spring, and an even vaguer plan to bribe them to go back home?" | "What has the Home Secretary been doing for the last six months if his efforts to solve the foreign prisoner crisis now amount to a vague pledge to sort the problem out by next spring, and an even vaguer plan to bribe them to go back home?" |
Shadow home secretary David Davis said of the £2,500 bonus plan: "By definition, these are not people who you can trust to be honest. | Shadow home secretary David Davis said of the £2,500 bonus plan: "By definition, these are not people who you can trust to be honest. |
"Have we got the border controls to make this work? The answer is no. How will we stop these people ripping off the taxpayer and coming back?" | "Have we got the border controls to make this work? The answer is no. How will we stop these people ripping off the taxpayer and coming back?" |
Prisons minister Gerry Sutcliffe said the deal was "good value for money" if compared to the £37,000-a-year cost of a place in prison. | Prisons minister Gerry Sutcliffe said the deal was "good value for money" if compared to the £37,000-a-year cost of a place in prison. |
A Home Office spokesman said the deal would not include giving cash handouts to prisoners. | A Home Office spokesman said the deal would not include giving cash handouts to prisoners. |
The money instead would be spent on grants for accommodation, education, or training to help set up a business if they agree to be moved out of the UK. | The money instead would be spent on grants for accommodation, education, or training to help set up a business if they agree to be moved out of the UK. |
Mr Reid said the introduction of Operation Safeguard - which involves the use of police cells to house prisoners from overflowing jails - would begin with a "facility" for at 500 places. | Mr Reid said the introduction of Operation Safeguard - which involves the use of police cells to house prisoners from overflowing jails - would begin with a "facility" for at 500 places. |
The prison population reached a record 79,843 at the weekend, and in theory there were just 125 more spaces left. | The prison population reached a record 79,843 at the weekend, and in theory there were just 125 more spaces left. |