Liz Truss

Our Director, Richard Garside, has written to the Justice Secretary, Liz Truss, calling for her to publish a secret Ministry of Justice report on the economic impact of new prisons.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Justice announced plans to build four new prisons in Yorkshire, Wigan, Rochester and Port Talbot. According to the Ministry, the new prisons will 'act as a boost to regional economies' and create 'new opportunities for local businesses.'

The Centre for Crime and Justice Studies has called on the Government to publish its evidence that new prisons will bring jobs and economic growth.

The call came in reaction to news that the Government plans to build four new prisons across England and Wales, claiming they will create at least 2,000 jobs.

Speaking today, the Centre's Director, Richard Garside, said:

Today's prisons White Paper marks the beginning of a new era of prison expansion and is the opposite of what is needed, according to our Director Richard Garside. Richard said:

Liz Truss is today firing the starting gun on a new era of prison growth and more punishment. This is the opposite of what is needed.

If the government is sincere in its desire to cut levels of violence, self-harm and suicide in prisons, it should be placing a fall in the number of prisoners and a reduction of prison capacity at the heart of its plans.

Far too many vulnerable people are being drawn into the justice system, the Northern Ireland Justice Minister, Claire Sugden, told our conference on the UK justice systems on Wednesday.

Caution is needed over plans to extend the use of so-called 'problem-solving courts', if they are not to become problem-creating courts, our Director Richard Garside said today.

The Centre for Crime and Justice Studies' Director, Richard Garside, has welcomed hints that the new Justice Secretary, Liz Truss, might be rethinking plans for 'reform prisons'.

Speaking yesterday at the House of Commons Justice Committee, Liz Truss said that she was not yet ready to commit to new legislation. She also indicated that she wanted to take her time to reassess existing plans.

Richard said,

Any incoming Secretary of State will want to review their predecessor's plans before committing to them.

Commenting on the appointment of Liz Truss as Justice Secretary our Director, Richard Garside, said:

Liz Truss' predecessor, Michael Gove, seems destined to go down as the great prison reformer whose career was ended before he had time to disappoint prison reformers.

Regardless of the balance sheet on his time in office, the appointment of Liz Truss affords a welcome opportunity for a rethink of his plans for "Reform Prisons".