Prospect Union: Investment now could reduce pressure on prison capacity and reduce reoffending

Sue Ferns, Senior Deputy General Secretary of Prospect union which represents chaplains, technical managers and psychologists in prisons, responding to early release and the new sentencing review, said: 

"Today's SDS40 early release scheme is a necessary but short-term response to the chronic overcrowding of English and Welsh prisons. Overcrowding makes the task of Prospect members to reform and rehabilitate offenders less effective. Without reform and investment in staff and facilities, prison populations will increase and fill the spare spaces created by SDS40.

"Therefore, we welcome a long-term strategic plan to reform prison sentencing and develop a targeted plan to increase prison capacity. This gives clear response on how we react to crime and places clear expectations on persistent offenders.

"We believe that it is time to extend the public sector prisons estate, stopping the dogmatic insistence on private prisons, and to give prisons the resources to employ the professional staff who are a key part of the teams required to reduce reoffending. In this way, investment now will reduce long-term pressure on prison capacity and ensure public safety."