Government welcomes Church report on prisons

BY FREDDY GRAY oners, further prison schemes for making exTHE MINISTER for Prisons offenders attractive to has welcomed the new employers, improved educaChurch document on penal tion in prisons, more cash reform, but insists that the for drugs treatment and Government is making better care mental health progress in all the areas care for prisoners.
highlighted by the bishops. The bishops claimed their The Bishops Conference report was not an attack on of England and Wales last the government, yet the week launched its new harddescribed the penal system hitting report, entitled A as “a public disgrace” and Place of Redemption, on the prisons today served as socicondition of prisons in the ety’s “dustbin”.
country. Cardinal Cormac In his introductory Murphy-O’Connor, Archremarks, Archbishop Smith bishop Peter Smith of said: “It is not good enough Cardiff and Bishop Terence to say that prisons simply Brain of Salford presented detain people. We need a the document to Paul new approach that places Goggins, the Prisons emphasis on the need to Minister. reform and restore — not Mr Goggins, a Catholic, just as optional extras — but welcomed the “spirit” of the as fundamental features of report, but said that the a civilised and humane penal document fails to recognise policy that also meets the areas in which the Governneed to detain, deter and to ment has improved the prispunish.
ons system. “I do not neces“Only then will we see a sarily share all the lasting difference. Prison conclusions which the report must become a place of reaches,” he said. redemption, not just detenHe said he felt the tion.” Government was making David Ramsbotham, adequate progress in all of former Chief Inspector of the areas pointed out of in Prisons, gave strong support the report. to bishops’ recommendaBut he insisted that the tions.
bishops’ submission was “I am very glad that the nonetheless important in Catholic bishops of England drawing public attention to and Wales have added their the issues of penal reform. voice to the many calling for In A Place of Redemption, improvements in the way the bishops propose full that imprisonment is working weeks for the prisconducted,” he said.