HC Deb 06 July 1978 vol 953 cc646-7
21. Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further plans he has to reduce the size of the prison population.

Mr. John

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to his similar Question on 4th May.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

Does not my hon. Friend accept that we have one of the highest prison populations in Western Europe and that many of those who are in prison are inadequate and petty offenders? Does he accept that now is the time to take a far more positive and imaginative approach to getting out of our prisons those offenders who are mentally ill, and particularly children under 16 on remand? Will he look again at the idea of introducing a system of remission for petty and inadequate offenders who are not eligible for parole?

Mr. John

We certainly have taken some steps about petty offenders by removing imprisonment for simple drunkenness. We are looking at a number of the things that my hon. Friend has mentioned. However, what he and I regard as self-evident is not always so regarded by everyone, as some of the ill-informed comment in the newspapers of last week showed.

Mr. Emery

Will the Minister consider, in the attempt to reduce crime, the system introduced by the chief constable of Devon and Cornwall? Is he aware that the chief constable has had a police officer assigned to a large number of schools in Devon and Cornwall, working with the children and getting them to understand how the police force is working on their side rather than working against them? Does the Minister appreciate that this arrangement has proved immensely successful and ought to be used in more parts of the country?

Mr. John

A year ago I met the chief constable concerned, with the local authorities, and found that the co-operation in Devon and Cornwall between all those responsible for the welfare of children was impressive and was likely to diminish crime in the counties.

Mr. Lee

Will my hon. Friend comment on the effectiveness of community service orders? This is a new system, as hon. Members know. Does he agree that the judiciary should be encouraged to extend the application of these orders, because that would serve in one way, even if only marginally, to reduce the prison population?

Mr. John

We think highly of community service orders, as do those who impose the punishments, as is clear since they make so many of them. We certainly encourage their use wherever appropriate.