Law & Order

[Just-Jude]

The government has announced that 4 prisons in England are to close due to a lack of inmates, more proof that the soft approach is working. Has the war on crime finally been won?

[Everhelpful]

Last I heard ALL the Prisons were almost full,hence the "Soft Approach to Criminals".

[Hypognosis]

Only half the story. Minus 3 news-hound points unfortunately. :o)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23958223

[DaisyNonna]

Probably closing them to save money.

[baza]

will they find 2,000 Welsh people to fill the new prison.

[Just-Jude]

It's a victory for prison reformers, but there's still more to be done.

[baza]

close 4 prisons and open one "super" prison in a couple of years, don't see the logic in that, we need more prisons to house all the eastern Europeans.

[vulcan42]

Perhaps this is why the prisons are empty.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-23967098

[Baldric]

///19,140 inmates on average were made to share a cell designed for one person///

Blimey, that must have been one overcrowded cell!

[baza]

very friendly.

[jno]

and they say prison is a life of luxury, Baldric.

Imagine all the squabbling over which channel to watch on the 90-inch telly and who's hidden the remote.

[baza]

^^^ or even who's turn is it to pick up the soap

[Gromit]

4 prisons are NOT closing due to a lack of inmates.

1 new super prison is not being built to accommadate the inmates from the closing prisons.

The prison population is not declining as you suggest.

There isn't really a soft approach.
Sentencing has not really changed at all. And offending hasn't changed either. So you inference that soft sentencing and a declining prison population are very wide of the mark.

[jno]

I think this is a windup, Gromit, the OP's threads mostly are.

[emmie]

more a cost cutting measure, have them all in one place, wonder how the families feel about going to visit so far away, don't have much sympathy for the cons, but the families who have to schlep miles to see their kin.

[Gromit]

Thanks jno,
Just looked at other questions in the profile and you are right.

[mikey4444]

This is rather puzzling. Our prisons are overcrowded and overflowing, so not sure where "lack of inmates" comes from. Extraordinary post !

[ludwig]

Despite this being a joke question, there's an interesting point around the prison population, which that it's doubled over the past ten years.
Violent crime is down as well. Could there be a link as the following article suggests..?

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/philipjohnston/100213659/violent-crime-is-down-does-that-mean-prison-works-after-all/

[youngmafbog]

I'd like to take the opposite and say its because liberal judges dont send to jail anymore

But Gromit is more likely right on this one.