Skip to main content

Clarity needed about the situation in Welsh prisons




We have called for greater clarity around the situation in Welsh prisons, following a Government admission that figures about the number of Covid-19 cases were wrong.

In a House of Lords debate on prisons on the 23rd April, Welsh Liberal Democrat Peer Christine Humphreys pressed the Government about the level of Covid-19 in Welsh prisons after new modelling that showed almost 25% of Covid-19 cases in the prison population were in Wales.

Writing to Baroness Humphreys in a letter dated 7th May, Lord Keen confirmed that figures were not yet available for Welsh prisons. This is due to a reporting error being identified in the data published on 27th April meaning the 25% of Covid-19 cases in the prison population being in Welsh prisons information was incorrect.

This compounds an already complex issue where, due to justice being a reserved matter and thus not devolved to Wales, the UK Ministry of Justice is responsible for sentencing and prisoner release while the Welsh Government is responsible for the health and well-being of prisoners.

In response, Baroness Humphreys raised the issue again in the House of Lords today and called for greater clarity around the current situation in Welsh prisons. The Party is also calling for moves to be taken to the devolve justice to the Senedd.

Baroness Christine Humphreys said:

“I am deeply concerned about the ongoing situation in Welsh prisons. Wales houses 6% of the UK prison population, yet we lack clarity about the number of Covid-19 cases in our prisons.

“Justice is a complex matter, with responsibility being split between the Senedd and Westminster. This hampers our ability to care for those in our prisons, especially when we do not have accurate data.

“We know that our prisons are already overcrowded, and this creates potential breeding grounds for the virus. There needs to be clear strategy to care for those infected, or I fear we will see Covid-19 ravage our prisons.

“We need to clarity about the ongoing situation in Welsh prisons and to re-think our approach. It is clear locking people up on an industrial scale is not working and the fact the Government has been unable to provide accurate information on the health and wellbeing of our prison population should set alarm bells ringing.”

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds said:

“It is clear that the current devolution settlement is simply not working when it comes to justice. Having two different bodies responsible for two elements of the same matter is both confusing and burdensome – creating more unnecessary paperwork and red tape.

”We need to empower the Senedd to have responsibility for all matters of justice, just as they do in Scotland. This constitutional imbalance needs addressing so we can get to grips with the situation in our prisons and have a clear line of responsibility for the situation.”

Labels:
Location: Wales, UK

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Lib Dems Propose New Bill to Protect Welsh Farmers

  The Liberal Democrats have proposed new legislation to protect Welsh farmers from being undercut by food trade deals that do not meet the UK’s environment and animal welfare standards.   The plans, set out in a private member’s bill from Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Rural Affairs Tim Farron MP, would require the government’s Trade and Agriculture Commission to assess the impact of any new trade deal on UK farmers, and guarantee that MPs had the final say on trade deals initiated by the government.   This would include an assessment of the impact of new trade deals on farming communities in each region and nation of the UK.   Farron’s Bill comes after concern was raised by farmers unions and the Welsh Liberal Democrats that the Government’s new trade deal with Australia will not include a Welsh-specific impact assessment. Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS and Liberal Democrat Rural Affairs Spokesperson Tim Farron MP Commenting on his...
Post a Comment
Read more

Welsh Lib Dems voice support for Flintshire lagoon plan

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have voiced their support for the Flintshire Tidal Lagoon project unveiled by Port of Mostyn. The plans published would see a 6.7 kilometre lagoon, stretching from the breakwater at Mostyn to Point of Ayr in Flintshire, constructed to produce renewable green energy.  The project, with a price tag of £590 million, would see enough low carbon electricity generated to power 82,000 homes in the north of Wales. It would also create around 300 jobs during the construction phase, with up to 30 high-skilled permanent posts after it was completed. The Welsh Liberal Democrats have long championed Tidal Power, leading the campaign for the Swansea Tidal Lagoon and calling for major investment in renewable energy sources to power a green recovery post-Covid. Chris Twells, Lead Welsh Liberal Democrat Senedd Candidate for North Wales, said: "As we leave lockdown and begin to look towards the future, we need to be ambitious and be investing in the jobs of the ...
Post a Comment
Read more

A recall petition has opened to decide if a Tory MP convicted for a false expenses claim will keep his seat.

Chris Davies tried to split the cost of photographs between two office budgets by faking invoices , when he could have claimed the amount by other means. Brecon and Radnorshire voters wanting to sign the petition will be able to do so until Thursday 20 June in six locations in the constituency. A by-election will be held if 10% of the electorate - 5,303 voters - sign. Mr Davies would be able to contest a by-election, if one takes place. House of Commons Speaker John Bercow confirmed the recall petition last month , after Mr Davies was given a community order of 50 hours unpaid work and a £1,500 fine, at Southwark Crown Court. In a statement, Mr Davies has apologised to his constituents for "making such an error", saying he very much hopes to continue serving Brecon and Radnorshire. Constituents can sign the petition at venues in Llandrindod Wells, Brecon, Presteigne, Ysytradgynlais, Hay-on-Wye and Crickhowell. Apart from Spring Bank ...
Read more