64 Prison privatisation

Submitted by POA

Congress welcomes and fully endorses the POA initiative and campaign Prisons Not For Profit and condemns the UK Government for its continued privatisation of prisons, the probation service and the justice system.

Further, Congress recognises that the market testing of prisons, with an overriding threat of prisons being handed over to private companies, will neither develop the prison system nor assist in rehabilitating offenders on release. Privatisation will not cause a reduction in offending behaviour and these policies will lead to a further breakdown of a civil society in which street crime, burglary, robbery, murder and terrorism will be allowed to flourish.

Amendment (Accepted)

From: Prospect

At end of paragraph 1, replace full stop with comma and add: ‘including the forensic science service. Plans to close three laboratories will seriously undermine the collection and analysis of evidence.’

Add new paragraph at end of motion:

‘Congress calls on the Government to work with the unions concerned to develop a national policy statement on forensic science setting out a clear and positive future direction.’