Prisons inspector reveals Tory neglect

Responding to this year's Chief Inspector of Prisons' annual report, Bedford Borough Liberal Democrat Crime and Police Spokesperson Councillor Hilde Hendrickx said "This report is utterly damning of the Conservatives' neglect of our prisons. With prisons so badly overcrowded and in such an appalling state, prisoners are not being properly rehabilitated. That means more reoffending and more people becoming victims of crime.

Hilde added "Too many people are in prison who shouldn't be there. We know that short prison sentences don't work, especially for women. The Liberal Democrats demand better. The Government must end overcrowding in prisons by making greater use of alternatives such as community sentences, women's centres and restorative justice. Our goal must be to transform prisons into places of rehabilitation and recovery, with properly-funded education, training and treatment for prisoners to build a life free from crime."