Edward Garnier

Conservative Party | Harborough

Garnier: It's time for us to change our prisons

July 2 2009

Speaking at the launch of the Howard League's 'Do Less Do Better: Report of the Commission on English Prisons Today', which looks at prison reform, Shadow Minister for Justice, Edward Garnier said:

"I welcome this report as a valuable contribution to the debate on prisons' policy. Following the publication of our own document, 'Prisons with a Purpose' in March last year and the Commission for Social Justice's 'Locked Up Potential' last autumn this Report continues that discussion in an intelligent way. I particularly applaud this Report's emphasis on local justice delivered locally, on the greater use of restorative justice, its analysis of the misuse of the prison system as a stand in for the health and welfare systems and the huge waste of money it represents, and the report's thought-through criticisms of NOMS.

"Over the last decade we have seen prisons' policy reduced to one of panic reaction as opposed to one based on strategic thinking and planning. Our prisons have never been so over-crowded and it's time for us to change them.

"The status quo is no longer an option and we need to start the process of change now. If elected to Government that is what a conservative Government would ensure."