Labour and the Tories have failed on youth justice - Holmes

"It is time to stop talking about reducing the child prison population and time to start taking steps to make it happen," said the Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson. Commenting on today’s [Thursday 3 September] report by the Prison Reform Trust on ways to reduce the number of young people in custody, Paul Holmes said:

“For nearly three decades, attempts by Labour and Tory governments to look tough have led to policies on youth justice that do not work.

“The result is one of the highest rates of child incarceration in the developed world and a sure-fire way of turning troubled kids into adult criminals.

“This excellent report from the Prison Reform Trust outlines international examples from which we must learn. It is time to stop talking about reducing the child prison population and time to start taking steps to make it happen.”

LABOUR’S BAKER OPTS FOR PRIVATISING PRISONS

BAKER TAKES LABOUR EVEN CLOSER TO TORIES ON CRIME

Commenting on an amendment to his motion on Low Moss prison where Labour’s Justice spokesperson deleted references to how the prison will be built by traditional public procurement methods and not with PFI/PPP, SNP MSP Stuart McMillan said:

“By deleting the references to how Low Moss prison will be built be built by traditional public procurement methods and not with PFI and PPP Richard Baker is clearly sending a signal that he would back the discredited privatisation method to build our prisons.

“I’m sure the Prison Officers Association will be very interested in this development in Labour’s justice policy. Particularly since the previous leader Wendy Alexander said she welcomed the scrapping of PFI/PPP for prisons.

“It is also total hypocrisy for Richard baker to complain about prison overcrowding when this was inherited from his party and he has actively opposed the introduction of home curfew detentions which the POA are seeking to see pressure taken off our prisons.

“His opposition to community sentences is also one that only adds to the pressure on our prisons. He can’t have it both ways. Complaining about prison overcrowding whilst voting with the Tories to keep the pressure on those prisons.

“His approach is once again at odds with his party as a myriad of quotes shows and why he is not taken seriously when it comes to justice policy.”