Boris Johnson will order a crackdown on prison discipline, sex offences and drug use next month under plans to reassure the public that he is focused on tackling crime.
As part of his efforts to return to normalcy after weeks of chaos triggered by rows and U-turns, the Prime Minister will present a significant law and order package.
The Government’s white paper on prisons will focus on improving discipline in jails.
Governors of prisons will now have the authority to hand out quick-track penalties to convicts who are guilty of lower level offenses.
As part of his efforts to return to normalcy after weeks of chaos triggered by U turns and row about sleaze, the Prime Minister will announce a significant law and order package.
And under the ‘zero-tolerance’ approach, prisoners who trash their cells will be forced to repair the damage they have caused. The supply of drugs will also be cut.
The PM will order an increase in drug abuse within society.
Sources claim that Johnson wants better victim protection in the criminal justice system.
New efforts will be made to raise the prosecution rate for rapes and sexual assaults.
A change is planned by the PM to the law that will allow victims of rape to testify via videolink. This would avoid them having to confront their attacker in court.
The move follows a report by the Victims’ Commissioner Dame Vera Baird who found that allowing rape victims to pre-record their evidence would avoid the distress of having to come face-to-face with their perpetrators.
The law and order package is part of a wider plan to restore the Government’s fortunes after allegations of sleaze and damaging U-turns
The details of the crime package remain to be finalised. Whitehall sources claimed that Johnson is determined to increase rehabilitation rates by improving prison discipline.
According to a source, ministers are trying to address the problem of former offenders committing 80 percent of crime.
White papers on prisons will focus on low-level offences and jail time as a way to improve the skills of inmates.
Even minor offenses can be dealt with in prison for months under current disciplinary regulations. A Whitehall source said that the whole system is ‘too slow and clunky’, adding: ‘We want governors to be empowered to hand out new penalties which support prisoners in their rehabilitation.’
Justice Secretary Dominic Raab will also use the whitepaper to outline measures that can be used to assist offenders in finding work after they have been released from prison. Only one-seven jail leavers finds a job in six months.
The law and order package is part of a wider plan to restore the Government’s fortunes after allegations of sleaze and damaging U-turns.
Housing Secretary Michael Gove will also unveil the ‘levelling up’ white paper next month, which will put flesh on the bones of the PM’s pledge to spread opportunity more evenly across the country.
A Government source said: ‘It’s been a difficult couple of weeks but the PM has remained focused on the Government’s priorities and we have important stuff coming up before the end of the year.’