Friday 5 July 2013

A Geography Lesson

The Rehabilitation Revolution omnishambles has taken a new turn with the announcement by the Ministry of Justice of the 70 prisons that are to be re-branded as 'Resettlement Prisons'. The idea is that all short-term prisoners, that is those serving 12 months or less and that currently do not qualify for any help or support upon release, will serve all their time at one of the newly-designated establishments. 

This is so that they can be prepared for release by one of the new contractors currently considering whether to bid for the so-called through-the-gate services or not. It's intended that the new providers of resettlement support and supervision will establish contact during the sentence and famously according to Chris Grayling they will be met at the gate on the day of release by a 'reformed old lag' who will show them the error of their ways.

In theory it's a good idea, but those guys down there in London need to get out a bit more. I don't think geography is their strong point. For example, lets have a look at HMP North Sea Camp - bit of a clue in the name there, built as it is on land reclaimed from the North Sea by Borstal boys - in fact not that many years ago I well remember nearly getting stuck in a blizzard visiting the godforsaken place, out in the windswept wilds of Lincolnshire as it is.

Being miles from any significant habitation, how is this place 'near' to any ones resettlement location? Where will the volunteer mentors be recruited from; how will they get to the prison and back in a reasonable time frame and how is the cost to be covered in the pared-to-the-bone contract? How are families expected to visit regularly?

Or what about HMP Haverigg? Basically an old RAF base and again, pretty much no where near any where, but amidst some absolutely stunning Cumbria landscapes, a full hour from the nearest motorway:- 

How to get there:
  • Bus: Take the number 15 bus from the Market Square which is 200 yards from Millom railway station.
  • Train: The nearest railway station is Millom. A bus or taxi must be taken to complete the journey.
  • Car: Haverigg is about one hour from junction 36 of the M6 motorway.
From the M6, Leave the M6 at junction 36, signposted Barrow and Kendal. Continue on the A590, taking the first slip road still following signs for Barrow for approximately 27 miles until the road runs adjacent to Morecambe Bay.
At the village of Greenodd, turn right on to the A590, signposted to Workington, Whitehaven etc. Stay on this road for 10 miles, going up over the fells and down by-passing Broughton in Furness. After Broughton in Furness (you will pass the High Cross Inn on your right), follow the A595 over Duddon Bridge and continue for 2.5 miles until Hallthwaites. (The prison is signposted from here.) Turn left, following the signs for Millom and Haverigg. Travel through Millom turning right at the BP garage and turn first left for Haverigg. Turn left at the end of the road and follow this road to Haverigg village. Turn right at the Harbour Hotel and turn left at the end of the main street.
One of the real joys of this job is getting out of the office, away from the computer and on the road at the crack of dawn in order to visit a far-flung outpost of the prison estate, nearly always located in some of the best scenery this nation possesses, and of course find time to eat and relax in one of the pubs handily pinpointed on the prison website (and no a video link is not the same and does not assist in establishing a constructive and therapeutic relationship). 
What I don't think they've fully appreciated down there at metropolitan MoJ HQ is that most prison building since the war has been dictated by cheap land already in government ownership and handily located miles away from troublesome middle class nimby's who even insist that the prison name bears no relation to where it's actually located, such is the stigma involved. 
Unlike the Victorian gaols, conveniently located in the centre of our major cities, for years the favoured locations for new prisons have been old RAF bases, isolated institutions, marshalling yards, failed industrial estates or reclaimed marshland. Almost without exception, they are not renowned for ease of access or closeness to habitation. For this idea to work, real resettlement prisons need to be in population centres, and of human scale, but that won't happen because the land is too expensive and the bigger the prison, the cheaper it is to run.
Take a look at the new Titan prison just announced for Wrexham, North Wales for a staggering 2,000 prisoners. There may be economies of scale, but it will mean the catchment area will be vast and make maintaining family ties difficult and expensive. 

Talking of catchment areas, due to the pressure on the prison estate and exacerbated by recent closures, many prisoners already find themselves located miles away from home, especially in London and the South East, and the disruption caused by these plans will only make matters worse.    
Resettlement prisons? I don't think so and the Howard League isn't impressed either.    

27 comments:

  1. Good luck in turning HMP Haverigg into a modern resettlement prison. I thought it was only opened to keep the sheep safe.

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  2. Less 'blue sky' thinking and more 'ivory towrr' thinking. This is going to look like rushed legislation, with people being left to manage the 'unforeseen' consequences of poor planning.

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  3. There is very little resettlement assistance available to any person leaving custody at present. Housing is a problem no community care grants and very little work to be had. Many agencies that did assist have gone because their fundings been pulled.
    The theory is a worthy one but the ecconomics just dont work. The practicalities of such a scheme are emensley complicated.
    This is just a way for the government to wash its hands of responsibillity and obligations in an area that it really dosent give a shite about anyway.

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  4. I recall the governor of North Sea Camp being arressted for fraudulant use of prison funding. I dont recall the outcome of the case.
    With private sector interest and lots of lovely money floating around, I wonder what safeguards are in place to ensure that money goes to where it should? After all, its about wages now not welfare.

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  5. Actually, I think the ivory tower has recently had an extension, as this 'resettlement' of prisoners, is not limited to those serving 12months- as I hear every cat c and d prisoner, will be released from their near home resettlement location for at least the last 12 weeks of thier sentence. Consequently, the OCA dept at jails up and down the land wll be driven not be the most approrpiate placement to address their charges offending behaviour, but hurredly moving people around the prison estate at the last minute. I don't think the MOJ and Secretary of State has given any thought to the usual means of reducing prison numbers, Home Detention Curfew and of making valiant attempts to structure resettlement - ROTL (reslease on temp licence)....what a mess, good luck with this one. Anyone from the POA out there, or are you all at the very end of your wits?

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    1. I don't think the Secretary of State has given any thought to any of this at all. Apart, perhaps, from his future wages as a consultant for G4S, Serco et al (just like John Reid) after he gets booted out.

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  6. All offending behaviour courses must therefore be completed 12 weeks prior to release? Will there be a specific prison for NFAs? Any sentence of 6mths or less will have to be served in local conditions. Longer actually. There would be little point allocating a prisoner some where if they had to come back a few weeks later.
    G4S your fuel bills are about to rocket!!!
    It's all getting such a bloomin' mess it's almost laughable......almost!

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  7. In an attempt to encourage drug users to seek help for their addiction they will now be offered free foil!
    Can't think of any better way to tackle addiction myself. Can anyone else?

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  8. "and no a video link is not the same and does not assist in establishing a constructive and therapeutic relationship"

    Hear bloody hear!

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  9. I find some of these proposals quite disturbing and frankly more then a little sinister. The private sector is to profit from crime with human beings being the commodity. Locating prisoners to local possitions 12 weeks prior to release is not for their own interest but to 'warehouse' them in preperation of delivery to private companies. Agreed that those in custody are there for breaking laws, but the whole thing has a flavour of human trafficing to me.

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  10. Not so far off the mark, me thinks! Well said!

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  11. Are there enough reformed old lags to go round?

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    1. Good question.

      But more to the point, is there enough 'reformed old lags' who are both intelligent enough to cope with the job.... And naive enough to get involved (in a such an ill-conceived/unworkable scheme) in the first place.

      The answer is as clear - as the idea is bad.

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    2. Agreed. And if 'old lags' are part of the plan shouldn't someone ask Grayling about the numbers involved and what discussions he's had with them.
      Maybe recruitment will be achieved through licence conditions and community service sentences. Who knows whats what anymore.

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    3. Indeed. Where are all these ex cons that are going to agree to re-immerse themselves back into the Criminal Justice System? IMO, It would not appeal to those ‘doing well’ in life - and it will not suit those that are not. What would be the proposed incentives old lags? How long will they have to be out of prison before they could be (considered) suitably enough 'reformed' to have a bash at reforming others? Who will train these people?

      Simple questions requiring some difficult answers.

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    4. *for these old lags...

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  12. An apology UrbaneGorilla!

    I was laughing so much at your comment I pressed the wrong bloody button and deleted it by mistake! Can you remember what you said and have another go please? It was a very good quote.

    Thanks,

    Jim

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    1. The UrbaneGorilla14 July 2013 at 18:47

      Careful with that delete button Eugene!
      I think it was something along the lines of criticizing the asinine notion of Local Delivery Units, created by closing neighbourhood and rural offices (and courts) and concentrating them in unlocal urban centres where very few people actually live. Then went on to imagine a lost G4S van, full of London prisoners, turning up at Haverigg and being turned away -"This is a local prison for local prisoners. There's nothing for you here" (yes - shameless League of Gentlemen lift)

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    2. That was it! Thanks, a wonderful image conjured up there and I will indeed steer clear of the delete button.

      Cheers,

      Jim

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  13. I remember the days when prisoners served two thirds and released with no licence. If they reoffended they went back before the courts and got a futher sentence.
    It appears to me that the prison population was much smaller in those days.
    Then came half custody and half on licence. The prison population has near enough doubled and the probation service has also swelled signifigantly.
    Having twice as many in prison now suggests that the half and half model has not made much impact on offending or reoffending rates.
    Therefore the costs related to this area are a government creation. Would it not be more profitable (socially and financially) to change the whole model and not piss about trying to tart up something for sale that in my view is already failing?

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  14. more rubbish from failing grayling

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  15. Does anyone know when King Richard is back from the crusades? Only asking because this Prince John and Sheriff of Nottingham running the country appear to be plundering the coffers. Selling the service off. The post office too. Massive cuts to local services.. 5000 squadies laid off while the army are still actively recruiting. Welfare reforms and bedroom taxes. Why? Because we're all in it together and have to buckle our belts.
    Yet MPs are to get a £6000 a year pay rise? Wonder how many people had to be made homeless for that? It just stinks!!!!
    Where are you Robin Hood? Your country needs you!

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    1. Writers block has descended I'm afraid, that coupled with the effects of heat and nothing much that's new to report on. Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible. In the meantime, if you a member of NAPO - VOTE!

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  16. Com'om JB what about people dying whilst in the care of G4S and today's announcement that they have been fraudulently claiming costs/fees in relation to 'tagging' - you couldn't make it up - well you could, but you'd have to be well p****d.

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  17. Prospects of G4S directors sent to private prisons, with release on a tag ? Possibly Serco too. Gutted for them.

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