Media Storm

1.5 Criminal Justice - Does prison work - with The Secret Barrister and Paula Harriot

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Episode notes

Released 13 January 2022

Media Storm presented by Mathilda Mallinson and Helena Wadia

Plans to lock up 20,000 new prisoners, a Home Secretary who wants criminals to “literally feel terror”, and the highest incarceration rate in Western Europe…

This is the UK’s ‘tough on crime’ mantle, and a political battleground fought all over the world. Media outlets vilify ‘thugs’ and ‘terrorists’ while politicians auction for the ‘law and order’ vote. But with no clear correlation between incarceration and crime rates, are we keeping people safe, or just keep them scared?

This week, your hosts sit down with The Secret Barrister and former prisoner Paula Harriott to talk all things crime - from prisons to Prince Andrews - after heading behind bars to answer one simple question: does prison work?

Your hosts

  • Mathilda Mallinson @mathildamall
  • Helena Wada @helenawadia

Your Guests

  • The Secret Barrister @barristersecret https://thesecretbarrister.com/
  • Paula Harriott @paula_harriott https://weareagenda.org/board/paula-harriott-2/ 

Sources

  • Priti Patel op-ed https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7316055/I-want-criminals-terrified-says-Priti-Patel-Home-Secretary-restore-confidence-Britain.html
  • European incarceration rates: https://www.statista.com/statistics/957501/incarceration-rate-in-europe/ 
  • UK incarceration rate: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn04334/ 
  • Policy: https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN05646/SN05646.pdf 
  • Prison population projections: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1035682/Prison_Population_Projections_2021_to_2026.pdf 
  • Ofsted review of prison education: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/launching-our-prison-education-review
  • Police, Crimes, Sentencing and Courts Bill:
  • Mental health in prisons: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/7455/documents/78054/default/
  • 1976 Bail Act in action: https://howardleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/APPG-For-their-own-protection-FINAL.pdf 
  • Domestic abuse in UK prisons: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/female-offender-strategy 

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Music by Samfire @soundofsamfire. Artwork by Simba Baylon @simbalenciaga. Prison sounds from Cody Lachey @ExOffenderCodyy.

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