A form of “penal populism” where longer incarceration is seen as the only effective means of punishment has contributed to the crisis in the prison system, according to the interim findings of a review led by former justice secretary David Gauke.
Successive governments’ overreliance on prison sentences and desire to seem “tough on crime” have driven the justice system in England and Wales to the brink of collapse, an official review has found.
Gauke’s interim report said ministers in successive governments had prioritised longer prison sentences over effective ways of cutting reoffending, diverting resources away from the probation service and looking for an alternative to custody.
Gauke’s interim report found that as well as longer sentences, the increased use of recall – where a released prisoner is sent back to prison for breaking the terms of their parole – had contributed to the increase in the prison population.
He added: “We agree with the findings that the drivers for longer prison sentences have been the many decisions made by successive governments and a ‘tough on crime’ narrative that has focused primarily on punishment which includes incarceration and longer sentences.
