Labour's prison policies: Law reforms, new prisons, more prevention

What Labour inherited in 1999
During the election campaign Labour borrowed a slogan from the Democrats and Britain's Labour Party - getting tough on crime and getting tough on the causes of crime. The slogan was aimed at riding a wave of public opinion reflected in 91.8 per cent support for tougher sentences in a citizen-initiated referendum held that election.

Under sentencing laws at the time, most serious offenders were automatically released after serving two-thirds of their sentence and could apply for parole after serving half. Murder carried a mandatory life sentence, with a non-parole period of 10 years.


What Labour has done

New sentencing and parole laws passed in 2002 introduced a new minimum 17-year, non-parole period for the worst murders. Violent offenders jailed for two years or more can seek parole after serving one-third of the sentence, but the Parole Board can now refuse parole and make offenders serve their full jail term. However, those jailed for less than two years are automatically released after half the term.

Crime rates have fallen to levels last seen 25 years ago, but since 2000 overall violent crime has increased 16 per cent.

Four new prisons have been commissioned, but the Government has come under fire for budget blowouts. Prison escapes have fallen 80 per cent, serious attacks on prison officers by 90 per cent, and the number of jail suicides has halved.

Labour has promised 1000 more police.


Where Labour is headed

Law Commission is looking at changes to sentencing and parole laws. Ministers have proposed greater use of non-custodial sentences, a greater role for restorative justice, higher funding for crime prevention measures, and extra money for alcohol and drug treatment programmes for inmates and support in reintegration programmes.