The surprise factor in all this consideration was that the Prison Officers Association endorsed the idea knowing full well that depriving their charges of their daily doses of carcinogens would almost certainly not improve warder/prisoner relations. Originally an initiative of the inept Chris Grayling, Michael Gove seemed to change his mind from no to yes. We can overloook Liz Truss`s forgettable few months at Petty France. Earlier this year the pros and cons were again clearly laid out when government in its wisdom decided to go ahead with the ban despite the predicted consequences. Well, now these consequences have come home to roost. Prison riots happened before the ban but not at the frequency of late. Today`s Times carries an authoritative account of recent events.
One can only wonder at the ineptitude of our current rulers in so many aspects of the job they were elected (just) to do. If the alternative were not so much as going from the frying pan into the fire but descending into a Marxist Dante Hell I would forego my vote in the next election for the first time ever.
I too have watched this saga over the years and concur with your analysis. Flip flopping from one policy to another by various Lord Chancellors (a position most of the incumbents seems to grasp with distain although they have to go through a formal swearing in process} has truly upset the efficient running of our jails. Many are now run by private companies who, not only are tasked with implementing this daft no smoking rule, but at the same time are fearful that their own employees will be injured or worse. No wonder they find it difficult if not impossible to recruit. Frankly I have no idea what the current policy is or where it is going and with Brexit on the agenda I can't see this issue is up for many votes.
ReplyDeleteEh, people with low impulse control and a high sense of entitlement display low impulse control and a high sense of entitlement.
ReplyDeleteIn principle I decry any pandering to lags. In practice, I accept that prisons are already awash with contraband and that staff are now stretched so thin that they are be unable to cope when the inevitable tantrums happen.
Perhaps we could pump cells full of Soma?