International Law

3 into 1 doesn't go

By John Hirst

Originally, I missed this story when I scanned my usual media haunts this morning but picked it up at Barnacle Bill's place.

At first glance, it appears that a Titan jail will be created out of 3 existing prisons. However, upon closer inspection, it emerges that what we have here is a Prison Service cost cutting exercise. We are assured that it will improve service. I suspect that pretty much in the same way that releasing the brake on a car parked on a hill will prevent it from rolling down the hill.

My understanding is that an Area Manager is already in charge of the 3 jails mentioned, so I cannot see the point of the merger for increasing effectiveness. What this proposal will do by having 1 prison governor in charge of 3 distinct prisons under 1 name is remove 2 prison governors and thereby save the money that would be paid to them in wages.

At a time when the Prison Service is in need of a bigger budget the government makes a decision to reduce the existing budget. I feel that this will be a false economy and will only lead to a disaster.

Full post as published by prisonlawinsideout on January 22, 2008 (boomark / email).