§ Lord Dholakiaasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the estimated likely increase in (a) the number of people imprisoned each year and (b) the average daily prison population as a result of Clause 46 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill (breach of community orders: warning and punishment). [HL2425]
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonWe expect that the new proposals will be effective in persuading offenders to comply with their community sentences. In the short term, it is possible that there will be an increase in the numbers imprisoned. It is difficult to make firm estimates of the numbers involved, but if the new statutory warning scheme is ignored by half of those offenders who currently fail to comply without good reason on one or more occasions, some 25,000 additional offenders could be imprisoned resulting in an increase in the average daily prison population of about 1,900.
The presumption of imprisonment for breach will not be commenced until sufficient prison places are available.