HL Deb 14 December 1994 vol 559 cc1285-7

2.50 p.m.

Lord Boyd-Carpenter asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many offences were committed in the last year by persons temporarily released on "leave" during the currency of sentences of imprisonment, and in how many cases such offences involved injury to other citizens.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Blatch)

My Lords, I regret that the statistical information which my noble friend has asked for is not yet available. As my right honourable friend the Home Secretary announced in another place on 18th November, a new system of release on temporary licence will be introduced early next year. As part of those arrangements, a system to monitor the operation of the new scheme is being established. This system will provide more comprehensive statistical information than is currently available, including information about the number and type of offences which are committed by prisoners temporarily released.

Lord Boyd-Carpenter

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that Answer, but is her department aware that the very large number of cases of release on leave has involved not only the committing of further offences, sometimes involving innocent people, but also seems to be undermining the deterrent effect of penal sentences?

Baroness Blatch

My Lords, my noble friend is absolutely right. It is precisely because of that concern that my right honourable friend the Home Secretary is tightening the system and introducing the new scheme. It is our view that it will address some of the problems that my noble friend has mentioned.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

My Lords, it is difficult to see how that can be the case. Although it is welcome that the new scheme will include improved statistical information on offences that are committed while prisoners are on leave, is it not the case that the Home Secretary has announced a blanket overall cut of 40 per cent. in the amount of home leave? Is it conceivable that that blanket cut can be justified in the absence of the statistics for which the noble Lord, Lord Boyd-Carpenter, has been asking?

Baroness Blatch

My Lords, my right honourable friend the Home Secretary is properly addressing the issues of public confidence in the system and of public safety. He is also doing something about restoring the balance away from favouring the prisoner to favouring public safety and concern for victims. It is our view that there will be a reduction of about 40 per cent. in the number of temporary releases.

Lord Allen of Abbeydale

My Lords, in view of the continuing criticisms of home leave, is it not worth recalling why we have the system at all, however much it will be curtailed? It sometimes seems to be forgotten that all prisoners, with a very tiny number of exceptions, are eventually released. Is there not much to be said for a measure which, if suitably operated in a suitable case, helps to prepare the individual for a more satisfactory reabsorption into the community?

Baroness Blatch

My Lords, the noble Lord is absolutely right on that point. The word that I should like to address is "suitability" for release. That is what is important. More rigour must be applied to the assessment of risk in relation to release. In terms of helping people to adjust from prison life to freedom, helping them to prepare for release and providing help with education and training and with resettlement and housing are very important. So there is a very good reason for temporary release, if it is properly managed.

Lord Harmar-Nicholls

My Lords, does my noble friend agree that "suitably operated" is the crucial phrase in the last supplementary question? Is she also aware that the Home Secretary's instinct seems to be in accordance with the nation's instinct, because the public are disturbed by the fact that many instances of crimes being committed while a person is on temporary release are reported every day and flow from such extravagant levity?

Baroness Blatch

My Lords, I entirely agree with my noble friend. This is not only a concern of my right honourable friend the Home Secretary. He was rightly responding to public concern about this matter.

Lord Hooson

My Lords, I agree with the Minister that suitability should be the test, but how can she square that with the across-the-board cut of 40 per cent.?

Baroness Blatch

My Lords, the noble Lord must at least recognise that the incidence of breaching conditions of release leads one to the notion that some people are being released although they are unsuitable. It is the view of my right honourable friend the Home Secretary that there will be a reduction of about 40 per cent. in the number of people being released because they simply will not pass the more rigorous test.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

My Lords, I think that we can forgive public opinion for expressing concern without adequate statistics but can we forgive the Home Secretary for reacting in this knee-jerk way without adequate statistics? The Answer given to the noble Lord, Lord Boyd-Carpenter, indicates that there is not adequate evidence that excessive home leave is leading to an excessive number of offences being committed while on leave. Should we not be more concerned, as the noble Lord, Lord Allen of Abbeydale, said, with the ultimate release of prisoners and with the issue of discipline within prisons which will be endangered if the blanket cut of 40 per cent. is enforced?

Baroness Blatch

My Lords, the latest figures show that there were 6,300 breaches of the conditions of temporary release. I think that that should concern both noble Lords and the public. If it is "knee-jerk" to be concerned about the victim, public safety and public confidence, so be it.

Lord Boyd-Carpenter

My Lords, when the figures that were asked for in the Question are available, will my noble friend provide details of the number of cases in which members of the public were injured by prisoners on leave?

Baroness Blatch

My Lords, a computer database is now being built up and I believe that we shall be able to provide such detailed information for my noble friend.