Drugs and weapons in prisons are rife (Image: Getty)
Daily Express readers will have been as outraged as I was this week to see reports of and weapons into our prisons. Social media footage shows how easy it is for these remote-controlled devices to put contraband in the hands of prisoners.
While I share the public’s anger, I can’t say I’m surprised. In just five years, drone sightings around prisons have increased by a massive 770%. That’s five years under the last Conservative government, with the security of our – and our country – dangerously exposed. These drones aren’t just a nuisance – the illicit items they fly into our prisons have a devastating effect on our ability to keep staff safe and cut crime.
Almost half of all prisoners are known to have a drug problem, which so often drives their offending. Prisons work hard to get , but it’s an uphill battle. Drone deliveries keep prisoners hooked on drugs, making them much more likely to fall back into crime on release. And the weapons that make their way into prisons fuel violence, putting prisoners and prison officers at risk of harm.
Under these conditions, it’s no wonder so few jails can do proper rehabilitation work to get prisoners’ lives back on track. The knock-on effects are clear: around 80% of offenders in our country are reoffenders. Since taking office, the Government has been working hard to tackle drones.
We are using specialist netting to prevent drone drops and have created no fly zones over prisons which, if ignored, can lead to criminal punishments. Our investment in a is making it easier for prisons to work with the police to disrupt the criminal gangs profiting from contraband entering prisons.
And we’re working with governments around the world who face the same problem – to look at new and better ways to combat drones.
The last Conservative government left us with prisons that are breeding grounds for crime, creating better criminals not better citizens. If we are going to cut reoffending and keep the public safe, that must change.
And we cannot forget that most offenders will eventually reach the end of their sentence and be back on our streets. It is our duty to help them turn their backs on crime.
There is one thing that is crucial to doing that – getting offenders working when they get out of jail. The evidence clearly shows that they are more likely to succeed if they have jobs after leaving prison. It’s a fact that I’m sure comes as no surprise to Express readers, who know how important work is for getting on in life.
I know this personally from having employed hundreds of ex-offenders as the CEO of my family’s business, . It all started over 20 years ago, when I met an offender called Matt. He’d got into a fight after his A-levels and, rather than going to university, he went to jail. Matt rightly served his time. But he is an impressive person – smart and full of energy. I knew that he was worth taking a chance on, so I told him he could come and work for me.
Matt still works for the company all these years later. He’s put in the hard work to turn his life around – and because he’s never offended again, he’s created no further victims. I want more people to work their way to success like that.
That’s why we’re teaming up with businesses on our new Employment Councils, which meet next week for the first time. They bring together everyone who can improve ex-offenders’ chances of finding work and keeping out of trouble.
Eleven regional Employment Councils will be attended by local business leaders, bringing crucial insight on the jobs employers are crying out to fill. Joining them are senior representatives from probation. They will take intel back to the probation service, which supervises people after release from prison and signs off employment to ensure it is safe for the public.
Last but not least are local leaders from the . They will bring an overview of the jobs picture locally, but also take back crucial updates on the skills employers need to Job Centres working to get ex-offenders into work.
The Government believes Employment Councils, working alongside prison staff and charities, can help transform prison leavers’ job prospects. This is central to our plan for change and mission to make Britain’s streets safer, so there are fewer victims.
We’re getting the basics right on drones to stop drugs and weapons ruining our efforts to turn offenders’ lives around. And focusing on employment as a tried and tested way to reduce reoffending and cut crime.
James Timpson is Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending