Prisons

[crazyg]

I think we ought to try all the principles of privatisation to the shenanigans that passes for government at Westminster - value for the taxpayer, American corporations running the show, minimum personnel, minimum wage for the 'workers'. I'm sure it would be a massive 'improvement' on what we have now. Or, alternatively, we could have all the public services funded to the extent that we fund our right honourable friends.

That, as you are probably aware, died in 1981 when Herr Thatcher tore up the first of the public sector pay agreements, and imposed a settlement of 7.5% + £30 on the Civil Service, when inflation was around 18 - 20%. At the same time, MPs received an 18.7% increase on their own pay, passed "on the nod" by parliament! Not a pay rise, they hastened to add, but a "catching up" exercise to bring them in line with pay increases in industry. The very same basis that the Pay Research Unit had in working out potential Civil Service pay rises. All other public sector organisations then swiftly had their pay agreements "modified".

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Other than removing criminals from wider society, prison serves little other useful purpose imo. They are breeding grounds for further criminality both before and following release.

A minorty of offenders are a simply a menace to others and dangerous and need to be removed from society until they cease to be so. For the rest, imprisonment should be a last resort, when all other means have failed. Technological advancements will see the form and substance of criminal punishment change in the next generation imo. It will involve a further ratcheting up of the surveillance society we live in, but I expect derivation of liberty for most offenders will mean something very different in a couple of decades, with home curfews and work in the community being the norm.

I believe the issue relating to drugs will be addressed in that time too imo. The current legal position simply isn't working and needs to be looked at in a forthright and honest fashion.

 

[Joe CurryGan]

Its a disgrace that Prison Officers have been 'ordered' to return to work by the High Court. All members of society should have a right to strike/withdraw their labour - this is a fundamental human right, access to which they are denied

 

[Pedestrian]

Ste
I've worked in a few prisons and a lot of the officers work or have worked the doors. Like those working the doors, the officers who are fair and approachable are the ones who get a modicum of satisfaction in there work. Those who want a fight will generally get one.
In my experience the prison service is very much like the army. It's a team of folk who spend a lot of time socialising together when not on the job. That closeness helps when dealing with incidents at work, both physically and mentally.

Prisons with cctv are completely different environments to those without and I would bare that in mind when choosing a workplace.

 

[bluemoonmatt]

I think anyone who's been convicted of rape or noncing should be chemically castrated. That would solve a big problem.

Ched Evans does not like this

 

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

I think anyone who's been convicted of rape or noncing should be chemically castrated. That would solve a big problem.

Doesn't work..

 

[Tuearts right boot]

Its a disgrace that Prison Officers have been 'ordered' to return to work by the High Court. All members of society should have a right to strike/withdraw their labour - this is a fundamental human right, access to which they are denied

Their grief is all about health and safety for Christs sake. The clue is in the question, they're not exactly selling wool to old ladies. If they dont want to go to work looking after drug dealers, murderers, rapist etc but want a nice wage with nice hours and nice working conditions with a nice pension then go work for the council.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

Their grief is all about health and safety for Christs sake. The clue is in the question, they're not exactly selling wool to old ladies. If they dont want to go to work looking after drug dealers, murderers, rapist etc but want a nice wage with nice hours and nice working conditions with a nice pension then go work for the council.

How's it going at the Council?

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

That, as you are probably aware, died in 1981 when Herr Thatcher tore up the first of the public sector pay agreements, and imposed a settlement of 7.5% + £30 on the Civil Service, when inflation was around 18 - 20%. At the same time, MPs received an 18.7% increase on their own pay, passed "on the nod" by parliament! Not a pay rise, they hastened to add, but a "catching up" exercise to bring them in line with pay increases in industry. The very same basis that the Pay Research Unit had in working out potential Civil Service pay rises. All other public sector organisations then swiftly had their pay agreements "modified".

I was in the midst of 'imposed' contracts. I remember standing by a photocopier after half-term when a young teacher asked me if I'd been in during the holiday. I said that I don't come in now they've nicked a week's holiday off us. I don't know what you mean, she replied.

There's no bigger set of hypocrites than the honourable members. They are more than happy to be elected on a 5 0r 10% turnout of voters, and see nothing wrong with it, but when it comes to a strike, it seems it's necessary to be upto 75% before it can be valid, and that's 75% of the total membership, not just 75% of those who vote! They have to be the skunks' skunks!

 

[Ifwecouldjust.......]

Its a privatised industry who obviously won't help reforming and educating their guests ....cos they would like them back. Take a look at Norway .....throwing educators at the prison system teaching inmates skills so they can get a job outside,.......they are closing prisons because of under use