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'Weekend prison' scheme scrapped 'Weekend prison' scheme scrapped
(40 minutes later)
The Home Office is to abandon pilot schemes for "weekend prison" to free up prison places for serious offenders.The Home Office is to abandon pilot schemes for "weekend prison" to free up prison places for serious offenders.
Intermittent Custody Orders were launched in January 2004 for people who had committed an offence but were not judged high risk.Intermittent Custody Orders were launched in January 2004 for people who had committed an offence but were not judged high risk.
When they were not in prison, they were under the supervision of probation officers, either working, looking for a job or doing unpaid community work.When they were not in prison, they were under the supervision of probation officers, either working, looking for a job or doing unpaid community work.
The sentences will be withdrawn on 20 November, the Home Office said.The sentences will be withdrawn on 20 November, the Home Office said.
The decision comes as jails in England and Wales are so overcrowded that Home Secretary John Reid was forced to house prisoners in police station cells.The decision comes as jails in England and Wales are so overcrowded that Home Secretary John Reid was forced to house prisoners in police station cells.
'More serious offenders''More serious offenders'
Home Office minister Lady Scotland said although there were some benefits to the three-year pilot, the people it dealt with were not a priority.Home Office minister Lady Scotland said although there were some benefits to the three-year pilot, the people it dealt with were not a priority.
"All of our attention, energies and resources must go into protecting the public from the most and more serious offenders," she said."All of our attention, energies and resources must go into protecting the public from the most and more serious offenders," she said.
The scheme was launched by the then Home Secretary David Blunkett at Kirkham Prison in Preston and Morton Hall prison in Lincoln.The scheme was launched by the then Home Secretary David Blunkett at Kirkham Prison in Preston and Morton Hall prison in Lincoln.
Offenders spent weekends or weekdays in jail, and the rest of their time in the community supervised by probation officers.Offenders spent weekends or weekdays in jail, and the rest of their time in the community supervised by probation officers.
If they failed to behave, they could be given full-time custody.If they failed to behave, they could be given full-time custody.
At its launch, Mr Blunkett said it could punish offenders while at the same time allowing them to participate in programmes to address their behaviour and made reparations to the community.At its launch, Mr Blunkett said it could punish offenders while at the same time allowing them to participate in programmes to address their behaviour and made reparations to the community.
The scheme has been criticised by the Conservatives, amongst others.The scheme has been criticised by the Conservatives, amongst others.
Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said "weekend prisons" were inappropriate because there was no such thing as a "weekend criminal".Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said "weekend prisons" were inappropriate because there was no such thing as a "weekend criminal".