MP backs bid to make prison 'Cumbria only'
Last updated at 11:41, Friday, 02 January 2009
PLANS that would see Haverigg Prison occupied exclusively by Cumbrian inmates have won the backing of Copeland MP Jamie Reed.
The MP will present the proposal that Haverigg becomes a community prison, for men, women and young offenders from Cumbria only, to the Home Office.
The move would reduce reoffending as well as boost employment and the economy in South Cumbria, according to Robin Pitt, Copeland Borough councillor for Newtown.
Cllr Pitt, who was a prison officer for 14 years, said: “All Cumbrian prisoners on remand, all sentenced women, and young offenders of both sexes, together with sentenced category A, B and D prisoners, are currently sent to prisons outside Cumbria.
“Prisoners who maintain contact with their family while inside are up to six times less likely to reoffend on release. However, many families face a round trip of at least five hours to visit a prisoner.”
Community prisons were first proposed by Lord Woolf in his report on the Strangeway riots in 1990, but never put into practice.
After Cllr Pitt initially presented the case for a community prison to councillors in April, letters were sent to other local authorities and MPs across Cumbria, the majority of whom have been supportive of the plans.
Carl Carter, Mr Reed’s aide, said: “Mr Reed is very interested in the possibility of developing HMP Haverigg into a community prison.
“He believes there would be significant benefits to such a proposal, the main being the impact on reoffending by Cumbrian inmates.
“The improvement in access for family to visit inmates and to maintain familial relationships would be a great help in preventing the break-up of families during a custodial sentence.”
First published at 11:40, Friday, 02 January 2009
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
Have your say
As somebody who had a close relative encaserated in BELMARSH at her Majesty pleasure,for a crime which was overturned on appeal at the High Court,the whole of our Justice system needs a re -adjustment.
To go to trial by Jury,when most of the Jurors do not understand the legalities of a case,but are expected to make an honourable decision on what they have heard
presented to them,which a good liar can make
it seem the truth, and a truthful person
make it seem he is a liar,because of pressure on them and is of a nervous disposition.
It would save the Tax Payers a monumental amount if main trials were conducted by Q.C's and Judges.
As to having a local Prison for Cumbrians,
any escapee's,the authority's wouldn,t have far to look for them.
Prison is not for relatives,but for the guilty,regardless how far a relative should have to travel,it should not be an issue.
The only issue our Prison system should have to contend with is. If a person is guilty or not.
As past issues have shown,many an innocent
person has served time for a crime that they were not guilty of.
Posted by r dawson on 9 January 2009 at 17:45