[prisoner-rights] UK: Prisoners' Association criticises White Paper

The Association of Prisoners

PRESS RELEASE
Immediate Release - No Embargo

Prisoners' Association
  criticises White Paper

An organisation campaigning for the rights of prisoners has criticised the 
White Paper, "Justice for All", published this afternoon by the Home Secretary.

General Secretary of the Association of Prisoners, John Hirst, said today:

     "Justice for All is not the piece of carefully
     considered legislation that we need. It amounts to
     little more than knee-jerk reaction to public concerns,
     many of which are unfounded."

Mr Hirst, who is serving a life sentence at Sudbury prison in Derbyshire, 
also criticised plans to increase magistrates' sentencing powers to twelve 
months. "If you want a plan guaranteed to increase the prison population 
overnight, then you've found it. It will also lead to more people opting 
for a Crown Court trial in the hope of being found not guilty - but costing 
the taxpayer millions."

"What is needed is a concerted effort at reinforcing public confidence in 
the criminal justice system, then allowing a reduction in the prison 
population. For as long as the public see a community penalty as a 'let 
off', a reduction in the prison population would be political suicide," he 
added.

ENDS

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The Association of Prisoners

Website
www.AssociationOfPrisoners.org.uk

24 Hour Telephone
07931 137310

AOP Head Office
P O Box 579
Warrington
WA5 2XB

General Secretary : John Hirst