Minister Refuses to Transfer Prisoners to Australia in Order to Alleviate Jail Overcrowding

Under new government plans, prisoners will not be sent as far as Australia for this purpose.

During a conversation with prisons minister Damian Hinds, Labour MP Tahir Ali raised the question of whether Australia might be considered as a destination for inmates as part of the efforts to ease the overcrowding in UK jails.

Mr. Hinds responded, stating that while he couldn’t disclose the specific countries that the government is currently in talks with, Australia is not being considered.

During his appearance at the Justice Select Committee, the minister explained, “I’m happy to confirm that, no, it’s not Australia. There are places in the world, relatively close, where there is unused prison capacity.

“This situation is not beneficial for those countries, and other nations are in need of additional capacity. We are not the only ones exploring this option.

“Previously, the Netherlands has provided prison spaces to Belgium and Norway in exchange for a fee, and this arrangement has been successful.”

Mr. Hinds, who was addressing the committee regarding the growing prison capacity crisis, emphasized that several factors would need to be considered before sending inmates to foreign prisons. These factors include ensuring that the prison conditions are comparable to those in the UK, arranging suitable access, overcoming language barriers, and considering the cost.

Visible Community Service

Shortly after making an announcement in Parliament about new legislation that will lead to the earlier deportation of foreign prisoners, Mr. Hinds appeared before the committee.

He stated that the changes to the early release program for Foreign National Offenders (FNOs) would not only help free up cells for the most dangerous criminals but also enhance public safety.

These plans are part of Justice Secretary Alex Chalk’s “Texan-style” prison reforms, which include requiring rapists to serve their entire sentences and reducing the imprisonment of “low-level offenders.”

Mr. Chalk suggested that instead of short prison terms, offenders could potentially be assigned community services such as cleaning up local neighborhoods.

When asked whether the public would accept offenders working in their communities instead of being incarcerated, Mr. Hinds expressed his belief that they would.

He stated, “It is important that there are consequences for people’s wrongdoings, and yes, the public wants to see this justice in action.

“However, when we engage with our constituents, they also understand the value of addressing drug addiction, mental health issues, alcohol problems, or helping individuals find employment or establish a stable routine in their lives.

“By doing so, there is a greater chance of reducing reoffending.”

The minister emphasized that the government aims to make the unpaid work carried out by prisoners more visible to the public.

He explained, “We want more people to be aware that these individuals are dedicating their time to make reparations to society.

“Wherever possible, we want the general public to witness these efforts and think, ‘Yes, this is a positive thing happening in my community; otherwise, it wouldn’t get done.’ When such initiatives are successful, they receive public support.”