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Proceeding contribution from Lord Clarke of Nottingham (Conservative) in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 21 June 2011. It occurred during Ministerial statement on Sentencing Reform/Legal Aid.


Sentencing Reform/Legal Aid

On the first point, I share my hon. Friend's amazement, as I am sure anyone would on their first introduction to the criminal justice system. The fact is, however, that drugs are very widely available in our prisons, and 9% of people who have taken heroin say that they first did so in prison, where they were introduced to the drug. I am sorry that I have had to refer to ““introducing drug-free wings””, but that is what we are proposing to do, and we are going to address the problems of security and rehabilitation in order to do it. Of course burglary is always a serious offence. It is actually one of those that are rising at the moment, although that has nothing to do with the sentence level. It is going up rather alarmingly compared with a year ago. I regard all burglary, but particularly household burglary, as a very serious offence. In the end, however, the punishment has to fit the particular crime. I shall consider what my hon. Friend has said, but I think that there should be a limit to the number of automatic sentences according to what it says on the label. Proper sentencing should be directed towards what we both agree is the first priority—namely, the proper protection of the public.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
530 c172 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Children Care proceedings Crime Employment Legal aid scheme Eligibility Domestic abuse Drugs Foreign nationals Knives Offenders Pensioners Protection Prisons Public consultation Misuse Rehabilitation Sentencing Special educational needs Remand in custody Squatting Victim support schemes Reparation by offenders Government responses Self-defence Community orders
Legislation
Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill 2010-12
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk