British Prisons Reduced 50 per cent

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 178, 14 August 1937, Page 18

British Prisons Reduced 50 per cent

'WAKEFIELD. — Striking chaxiges in British prison conditions wero noted by Sir John Simon, Home Secretary, when he inspected px'ison ofucers and "trainees33 here reeently and laid the foundation stone of tho Imperial Training Schooi for Prison Officers on a site outside the main gates of Wakefield Prison. In 1910 there were in England and Wales 56 local prisons, Sir John pointcd out, and sinee that time they have been reduced until to-day there are only 20. The daily average population in Englislx prisons a quarter of a century ago was nearly 21,000, whereas to-day it is only just over 10,000. • This striking ehange, Sir John claimed, is not due to the fact that the energies of the police in deteeting crime

or that the administration of tho crirninal law had become slack, but to the fact that Britain had completely changed her conceptions as to the generaJ methods by which a great deal of ,deiinquency might be treated. Many things have tended to reduce the prison population, but a most pdtent cause is the improved prison adminstration, Sir John said. The prison officer is called upon to co-operate by his personal eharaeter and training in the work of reform — the ultimate object oir all prison discipline to-day. "That's a nice collection of books you3ve got! You cught to have some slxelves.3' "I know; but nobody seems to lend shelves.33 .