David Cameron must NOT forget that prison works, says ROSS CLARK

THERE is a wonderful scene in one of the St Trinian’s films where a judge about to close down the delinquent school for good is hoodwinked by a passionate appeal from a liberal reformer who, to a violin solo from one of the girls, tells the court that the pupils are victims of an immoral age but that his inspiration can reform them.

The school is saved – and predictably grows even more unruly.
David Cameron’s speech on prison reform yesterday, in which he proposed that some prisoners be allowed out during the week and locked up only at weekends, reminded me a lot of that scene.

It is only two years ago that the Government was forced to retreat on the last day-release scheme for prisoners after Ian McLoughlin, a killer out on day release from Springhill Prison in Buckinghamshire, murdered a pensioner who had gone round to investigate noises from a house that McLoughlin had decided to burgle.
There was also the case of Al-Foday Fofanah, who was let out on temporary release from Ford Open Prison, got hold of an assault rifle and held up a bank in Borough, south London. It tends to be the way with early releases.

Another in 2007 resulted in rapist David Tiley being allowed to leave prison. He promptly murdered his disabled fiancée and, a week later, killed her carer, too.
Tiley is now serving a whole life tariff, meaning he should never be released, but don’t bet on it.

You can be sure there will be some “enlightened” reform group sooner or later trying to tell us he is a changed character and demanding that he is allowed freedom.
Some non-violent prisoners perhaps ought to be allowed outside prison walls to take up employment if it keeps them in the practice of working and earns them money to help them compensate their victims.

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