I don’t get everything right, and when I celebrated the appointment of James Timpson as the UK’s Minister of Prisons, a hero of mine for years… I fear I might have been just that – wrong. James, for those who are unaware, built a business worth hundreds of millions, by rehabilitating and hiring ex-offenders from prisons. Those hard working men and women cutting your keys, repairing your shoes, and changing your watch strap? Yes, many are from prison, thousands of them. In fact, of the first 1,500 ex-convicts hired by Timpson, only four returned to prison – a recidivism rate of just 0.26%. That is astounding. It’s good for business too, for Timpson is not a charity doing this out of kindness; those who he hires are tremendously hardworking, committed to rebuilding their life, and have helped Timpson become a company turning over in excess of £200,000,000. And it gets better. Timpson spends just £500,000 a year retraining ex-offenders. The current cost of reoffending to the UK tax payer? Eighteen BILLION pounds. So yes – Ex-offenders win, by leaving a life of crime behind. Timpson wins by building a loyal workforce. And the tax payer wins by slashing the cost of prison. So when James was made our Prisoners Minister last year, I was the first to shout about just how great of an opportunity this was. I was excited for James. For him to expand his progressive, forward-thinking approach to incarceration; so we can start emptying prisons of those who needn’t be there. And that’s what he did. James has announced huge policy changes and reforms… But… only for women in prisons. And so the dream comes crashing down, as James writes the policy I was desperate for, and with his next flick of the pen, excludes 96% of the entire prison population from receiving it. It’s not right. And I don’t think it’s legal either. Access to rehabilitation, vocational training, and mental health support should be decided on need, not sex. So I’ve written a letter to the Human Rights and Equality Commission, challenging this policy, and if you feel strongly, you should do the same too. Send the letter

2025-02-03