The prison system's not working says inspector

1:46pm Wednesday 3rd October 2001

The prison system is not working because it is not having an impact on the high percentage of people who re-offend, a former chief inspector of prisons said last week.

Sir David Ramsbotham, addressing a meeting of Hertfordshire Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (HACRO), said major changes had to be introduced.

He said research had shown that more than half of all prisoners went on to commit further crimes within two years of their release, and claimed a new approach was needed.

Sir David said prisons had to start addressing the behavioural problems of inmates, so that they would be better equipped to find a secure job and stay away from crime.

His words were welcomed by members of HACRO, which promotes and funds a range of projects to help prisoners and ex-prisoners to change their attitude towards society.

Chairman Anne Wyburd said: "Sir David's vision of the role of imprisonment endorses the work HACRO is doing in Hertfordshire to ensure prisoners are rehabilitated."

The guest speaker said more effective education programmes were required in prisons, because 80 per cent of prisoners had difficulties with basic reading and writing.

During the meeting, at the county's police headquarters in Hertford, Sir David also called for a crackdown on drug abuse in prisons, and the isolation of drug-dealing inmates.