• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
  • Contact us
  • Guest Content
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Elevenses
  • Business
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Property
  • JOBS
  • All
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Sport
    • Tech/Auto
    • Lifestyle
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Set For Life
      • Thunderball
      • EuroMillions
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Justice secretary roasted by presenter over state of Britain’s prisons

"Add it up - isn’t this a system designed for a disaster?"

Oliver Murphy by Oliver Murphy
2023-09-10 11:10
in News, Politics
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

Justice secretary Alex Chalk was blasted over the state of Britain’s prisons this morning as the political row following Daniel Khalife’s escape intensifies.

Speaking to Trevor Phillips, the justice secretary was told prisons “are designed for disaster” following the recapture of the 21-year-old former soldier who spent three days on the run.

Khalife escaped HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday after strapping himself to the bottom of a food delivery lorry in a daring move that has provoked furious public debate over state of the country’s prison system.

He was arrested on Saturday by plain-clothes officers in the Chiswick area following a three day manhunt by authorities.

Ministers are facing criticism over the conditions and security of the jail with an independent inquiry due to investigate the placement and categorisation of all inmates.

Appearing on Sky News, Phillips told Chalk: “We don’t have enough prison staff – you’re trying to recruit more.

“Of the ones that we do have, a lot of them are off sick, with the number of sick days claimed since 2018 annually is up 60%. 

“And here is the most concerning thing perhaps. Of those who are on duty, a high proportion are inexperienced. Overall one in six are in their first year in the job.

He added: “Add it up – isn’t this a system designed for a disaster?”

RelatedPosts

UK must be prepared for war with Russia by 2030, former British Army chief warns

Donald Trump to be ‘denied access to Parliament’ on state visit

UK spies given list of nine British towns Russia would bomb first

White House ridiculed after posting ’embarrassing’ Superman Trump pic

Chalk, who insisted the government has invested heavily in the prison service and is prioritising modernisation, revealed that 40 inmates had been moved from Wandsworth following Khalife’s escape.

He said: “The condition of our prisons is of course very important. This is the government that has done more to put its money where its mouth is to invest very heavily in our prison service.”

Chalk added: “We accept that they are phenomenal people who do an extremely difficult job. We value them hugely and I really want to encourage people into the service.”

It comes after Michelle Donelan was caught overstating the increase in the number of prison officers.

Responding to concerns prompted by the former soldier’s escape, science and technology minister Michelle Donelan told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme that the number of “frontline” prisons had “increased by 20% in the last year.”

But charity Full Fact confirmed that the figures provided were far from accurate and concluded that the overall increase in the number of full-time equivalent band 3-5 officers was 3.2%.

Related: Minister caught ‘overstating’ prison officer numbers during interview

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

SUPPORT

We do not charge or put articles behind a paywall. If you can, please show your appreciation for our free content by donating whatever you think is fair to help keep TLE growing and support real, independent, investigative journalism.

DONATE & SUPPORT

Contact

Editorial enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Commercial enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Address

The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE
Company number 09221879
International House,
24 Holborn Viaduct,
London EC1A 2BN,
United Kingdom

© The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE thelondoneconomic.com - All Rights Reserved. Privacy

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Lottery Results
    • Lotto
    • Set For Life
    • Thunderball
    • EuroMillions
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE thelondoneconomic.com - All Rights Reserved. Privacy

← ‘Everyone knows Brexit is a catastrophe’ – Stephen Fry lets rip live on BBC ← Global Britain hit by fresh setback
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Lottery Results
    • Lotto
    • Set For Life
    • Thunderball
    • EuroMillions
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE thelondoneconomic.com - All Rights Reserved. Privacy

-->