Prisoners across England and Wales will now need to make real progress towards their own rehabilitation before receiving privileges. For too long there has been an expectation that privileges are an automatic right but they will now have to be earned through positive engagement in rehabilitation and not merely through an absence of bad behaviour.
The new ‘Entry Level’ will ensure that for the first two weeks privileges, such as access to private cash, are restricted and that all convicted male prisoners wear prison uniform. Anyone who does not comply with the rules or engage with rehabilitation initiatives will be dropped to basic level, where in-cell televisions will not be provided. Television and gym access will be restricted at times during the day when inmates should be working or engaged in purposeful activity, and all convicted prisoners will work a longer day.
Prison rules will also be changed to help ensure that property damaged by prisoners gets paid for by prisoners and not by the tax payer. Like many of my constituents, I believe that prisons should be places of hard work and serious reform. It is not right that prisoners appear to be languishing in their cells while the rest of us go out to work. The Conservatives are on the side of people who work hard and do the right thing; these tough but sensible reforms are aimed at breaking the cycle of reoffending and making our streets and communities safer.