news story

18th October 2006

MP Challenges Ministers Over Open Prisons Policy

  Click here to read the debate in the House of Commons

Northavon MP Steve Webb has today challenged ministers over their plans to move more prisoners into open prisons such as HMP Leyhill in South Gloucestershire.  The MP secured a 30 minute parliamentary debate on the Government's policies on open prisons which was replied to by Home Office minister Gerry Sutcliffe.

Steve Webb stressed his support for the principle of open prisons and praised the dramatic fall in the number of people absconding from Leyhill during 2006. He also stressed the value of the efforts that are made to prepare long-term inmates for life in the community. But he warned that this good work risks being jeopardised if open prisons are simply used as 'holding pens' because more secure prisons are full to bursting.

The Lib Dem MP, who recently visited HMP Leyhill, asked for reassurances that the standards of risk assessment for open prisons will not be relaxed simply because of the pressure on places in closed prisons.

Speaking in advance of the debate, Steve Webb said:

"Open prisons are an important part of the prison network, and Leyhill in particular has made real progress in recent months in reducing the number of prisoners absconding.

But the good work that is done at Leyhill risks being undermined if dozens of unsuitable prisoners are sent there simply because there is nowhere else for them to go. It is demoralising for prison staff and endangers public safety for open prisons to be used in this way. I want the Government to guarantee that there will be no relaxing of the rules when it comes to who gets sent to open conditions".