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/news/uk-26802481

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Grayling's letter to laureate defends prison book ban Grayling's letter to laureate defends prison book ban
(35 minutes later)
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling has defended his policy on books being sent to prisoners in England and Wales, through an open letter sent to the poet laureate. The Justice Secretary has defended his policy on books being sent to prisoners in England and Wales, through an open letter sent to the poet laureate.
Carol Ann Duffy protested over the ban on prisoners receiving parcels - including books - which came into force in November. Carol Ann Duffy protested over the ban on prisoners receiving parcels - including books- which began last year.
Mr Grayling said the ban kept prisons free of drugs and illicit materials. Chris Grayling said the ban kept prisons free of drugs, but Ms Duffy said it hurt the "soul of the country".
But Ms Duffy said it threatened the "soul of the country". The Howard League for Penal Reform said drugs were not originally cited as a reason for the ban.
'Undermine''Undermine'
In his letter Mr Grayling said he had only specifically made a decision about "the availability of books in prisons" once, and that was to allow the novel Fifty Shades of Grey to be circulated in female prisons, in a bid to encourage reading.In his letter Mr Grayling said he had only specifically made a decision about "the availability of books in prisons" once, and that was to allow the novel Fifty Shades of Grey to be circulated in female prisons, in a bid to encourage reading.
He said that allowing prisoners to receive regular parcels would "put in jeopardy the efforts of prison staff to keep drugs and other illicit materials out of prisons".He said that allowing prisoners to receive regular parcels would "put in jeopardy the efforts of prison staff to keep drugs and other illicit materials out of prisons".
"The arrival of thousands of unknown parcels in our prisons each day, whether containing books, essential items or anything else, would completely undermine these efforts," he said."The arrival of thousands of unknown parcels in our prisons each day, whether containing books, essential items or anything else, would completely undermine these efforts," he said.
"It would be a logistical impossibility to check them all in the level of detail that is needed, to properly explore whether apparently innocuous items contain drugs or other illegal items.""It would be a logistical impossibility to check them all in the level of detail that is needed, to properly explore whether apparently innocuous items contain drugs or other illegal items."
CircumventCircumvent
Mr Grayling also denied he or any other ministers have made specific changes about the availability of books in prisons.Mr Grayling also denied he or any other ministers have made specific changes about the availability of books in prisons.
"Despite some reports, we have not sought to include them in a list of privilege items that have to be earned by offenders - to do so would be wholly wrong," he said."Despite some reports, we have not sought to include them in a list of privilege items that have to be earned by offenders - to do so would be wholly wrong," he said.
He went on to offer Ms Duffy an invitation to visit a prison so she could "see in more detail the scale of the smuggling" in prisons, and the attempts being made to circumvent the rules.He went on to offer Ms Duffy an invitation to visit a prison so she could "see in more detail the scale of the smuggling" in prisons, and the attempts being made to circumvent the rules.
'Stupid''Stupid'
But Andrew Neilson, director of campaigns at the Howard League for Penal Reform, described it as "bizarre" that a system which he said worked perfectly well until November was now described by Mr Grayling as "logistically impossible". But Andrew Neilson, director of campaigns at the Howard League for Penal Reform, described it as "bizarre" that a system which he said worked perfectly well until November last year when the new rules were introduced, was now described by Mr Grayling as "logistically impossible".
He said that concern about drugs was not cited as a reason to impose the restrictions when they were introduced last year.He said that concern about drugs was not cited as a reason to impose the restrictions when they were introduced last year.
"There are many ways that drugs get into prison, but few people would be stupid enough to pop them in the post," he said."There are many ways that drugs get into prison, but few people would be stupid enough to pop them in the post," he said.
The Howard League for Penal Reform is a national charity which works towards for less crime, safer communities and fewer people in prison.The Howard League for Penal Reform is a national charity which works towards for less crime, safer communities and fewer people in prison.
Ms Duffy organised the protest at outside Pentonville Prison in north London on Friday, which was also attended by actress Vanessa Redgrave and author Kathy Lette.Ms Duffy organised the protest at outside Pentonville Prison in north London on Friday, which was also attended by actress Vanessa Redgrave and author Kathy Lette.