Iain Dale wrong on prisons
June 30, 2010 1 Comment
Well OK not completely. When he writes that there is one way prison works is that when someone is in jail they can no longer commit an offence he hits the nail on the head. That is what I want. To know that criminals can be taken out of action.
He mentions financial penalties. Having worked for a nationwide retailer I could shock you with the figures as to how much shoplifting costs. If you steal £1000 worth of goods and get a fixed penalty fine of say £60 as has been muted in the past it sounds like a sound financial cost for the criminal.
Now I agree there is more that can be done. I don’t want to hear how much prison places cost. Make them cost less. Make prisoners work to earn their keep. Make them clean motorways like they do in the states. Don’t allow a situation to exist whereby it is cheaper for prisoners to watch Sky TV than it is for patients in hospital.
Sorry but I don’t want to hear that prison doesn’t work. A lack of prison places is what is making the system not work.
Hear hear. Allowing prisons to become overcrowded then lament that they don't work doesn't wash.