[UK] Tackle Poverty to Reduce the Numbers

from The Daily Record

CHIEF prisons inspector Andrew McLellan insists tackling poverty is key to cutting prison numbers.

He pointed to a shocking report last year which highlighted the links between poverty and prisoners.

The study, by former Barlinnie governor Roger Houchin, found a quarter of Scotland's prisoners came from just 53 out of 1200 council wards.

These tended to be among the poorest places.

Royston in Glasgow, Craigmillar in Edinburgh, Woodside in Aberdeen and Hill town in Dundee contributed the most from those cities. In one part of Glasgow, one in nine 23-year-old men was in prison.

Of the 53 worst wards, Glasgow had 35, Edinburgh eight, Aberdeen three and Dundee two.

There was one each in East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, Inverclyde and Renfrewshire. The study showed there were 269 districts which sent no one to jail.

On average, there were 129 prisoners per 100,000 of the population. But in the richest council wards, the figure was 40 - compared to 950 in the poorest.

Dr McLellan said: "Only when we transform life for our poorest young men will overcrowding in our prisons disappear."

He also criticised the amount spent on inmates' food. He said the budget of £1.57 per head a day had not increased for 10 years.

And he said cons complained they got "less meat in the stew".