§ Baroness Kennedy of The Shawsasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether their plan to cap the use of imprisonment is compatible with their remarks about a "liberal consensus" in penal policy. [HL3983]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe Government have no plans to cap the use of imprisonment by the courts. It is for the courts to decide when custody is the appropriate sentence. The Government have, however, consistently made clear their belief that prison should be reserved for the most serious, dangerous and seriously persistent offenders. We will ensure that there are sufficient prison places for that group. New sentencing provisions in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 will enable dangerous violent and sexual criminals to be kept in prison until they can be managed in the community, indefinitely if necessary.
For other offenders, we wish to see a reduction in the use of short ineffective sentences for lower-level offenders, where tough community penalties would be more effective in preventing reoffending and ensuring offenders pay back to the community.