18Aug 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Probation report: Invest in drug treatment to cut crime

Probation report: Invest in drug treatment to cut crime

Parliamentary news
Responding to HM Inspectorate of Probation’s report exposing the lack of specialist drug treatment for people on probation, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse MP said: “The Conservatives abject failure to tackle the causes of crime is making our communities less safe. “We know that effective drug treatment – both in prison and in the community – is crucial for stopping people from reoffending. We know that drug-related crime costs taxpayers £9 billion every year. So why won’t the Government invest what is needed to treat drug addiction and stop more people becoming victims of crime? “Sadly, Conservative Ministers are spending too much time trying to sound tough on crime, and not doing what will actually work to prevent it. “To break the cycle of reoffending, we must turn prisons…
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29Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Record levels of self-harm show women’s prisons are in crisis

Record levels of self-harm show women’s prisons are in crisis

Parliamentary news
Responding to latest figures which show that self-harm by female prisoners reached a record high in 2020, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse MP said: "Our prisons are in crisis. The amount of self-harm, especially in women's prisons, is shockingly high and rising. "Far too many women are sent to prison on short sentences for non-violent offences. In many cases these women have been victims of abuse and have suffered trauma which has led them into a life of disadvantage and low level crime, but many also have caring responsibilities. "Being in prison will set off the next round of trauma and disadvantage for those that depend on them. We have to break this destructive circle. "Women should only be sent to prison where absolutely necessary: for the most serious…
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17Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Sykes seeks review of suspended sentence handed out to Shaw sexual offender

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Shaw Ward and Leader of the Opposition on Oldham Council, has written to the Attorney General, The Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP, seeking an urgent review of the suspended prison sentence handed down by Tameside Magistrates Court last week to Javed Miah from Shaw. Miah was convicted of a serious predatory sexual offence after he attacked a lone female in Oldham Town Centre. The victim was able to raise the alarm via an SOS function on her mobile phone causing the offender to run away. In his letter to the Attorney General, Councillor Sykes said: “Following the recent tragic death of Sarah Everard, the continued safety of women on our streets from predatory males will, I am sure, be especially at…
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19Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

On short prison sentences, Tories say one thing and do another

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Justice Secretary’s speech this morning where he advocated abolishing prison sentences of six months or less, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse said:  “I’m glad the Justice Secretary is finally accepting what the evidence – and the Liberal Democrats – have been saying for years: short prison sentences are destructive and just lead to more crime. “But even as he makes that admission, his Tory colleagues at the Home Office are busy introducing more short prison sentences in their Offensive Weapons Bill. “This Tory Government is saying one thing and doing another, and the Liberal Democrats demand better. Ministers must end short prison sentences and stop creating new ones.”
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31Jan 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Davey: Shocking new figures expose prison crisis

Campaigns, Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have called for urgent action to tackle overcrowding and recruit more prison officers following new figures showing a dramatic increase in deaths, self-harm and assaults in prison. The statistics, published today by the Ministry of Justice, show that in 2018 there were 325 deaths in prison, up 10% since 2017. They figures also reveal self-harm incidents and assaults have reached new record highs. In the 12 months to September 2018, there were: 52,814 incidents of self-harm, up 23% year-on-year;33,803 assaults, up 20% year-on-year & the highest on record;This includes 10,085 assaults on staff, up 29% year-on-year. Liberal Democrats Home Affairs Spokesperson Ed Davey said:“These shocking statistics are yet more evidence that our prisons are in crisis. They are stuffed full of people on short sentences, leaving overstretched staff simply unable to cope and unable to provide…
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