BRITISH PRISONS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 42, 19 February 1930, Page 9

BRITISH PRISONS

REDUCTION IN NUMBER

PEOPLE MORE LAW-ABIDING

British Official Wireles3.

BUGBY, 17th February.

Tho Homo Secretary, Mr. J. B. Clynes, with the concurrence-, of the Prison Commissioners, lias decided to make.a substantial .reduction in tho number of British prisons. The "Daily Herald" says that half-empty prisons are to be vacated, their occupants boing scut to-other' gaols, and the unwanted premises will bo sold, bringing the number of British prisons to tho lowest figure in modern history.

The'number now in use is only half that which, was considered necessary at- the beginning of tho century, but Mr. Clynes, in an interview, says: "The fact has 'been confronting the Prison Commissioners and myself that tho population of our prisons is declining so considerably that more of these places are becoming unnecessary. The result will be that a number of them will bo sold off. Wo are able to get rid of prisons, partly because we have fewor wrong-doers and partly becausewo keep people out of such places unless it is absolutely necessary..".

Mr. Edward Shortt, a former Homo Secretary, commenting on tho report, said, that tho country w;as becoming more law-abiding and the law was increasingly disinclined to..send people to prison for' small things or when they were likely to benefit more from discipline and guidance. Within recent years twenty-four prisons have gone out of use. .