David Davies today voiced his hopes that the Home Office will rethink their strategy of housing convicted sex offenders in Prescoed Open Prison after meeting with Gerry Sutcliffe, the Prisons Minister, in the Home Office. A petition signed by 1,600 constituents was handed over at the meeting, arranged to discuss the public disgust at a number of recent, high-profile walk-outs.
The meeting, attended by Mr. Davies, the Mayor of Usk Kay Peacock, and Councillors Tony Kear and Maggie Harkness, was arranged after it was revealed that twelve prisoners, including murders and child molesters, have absconded from the prison since the beginning of the year. Outraged local residents have been demanding an immediate change to the criteria upon which prisoners are judged to be fit to be housed in Prescoed and believe that an immediate enquiry is imperative.
Speaking outside the Home Office immediately after the meeting tonight, David said, “We didn’t get what we’d hoped for, which was assurances of a complete overhaul of the Home Office’s policies regarding the housing of criminals in Usk Prison, but I certainly do not feel that the meeting was a waste of time. The Minister listened to us and acknowledged the legitimacy of our concerns and admitted that investigations are needed.
“I informed Mr. Sutcliffe that I am looking for a change to the way in which risk assessments are carried out and I shall be keeping the pressure on the Home Office to ensure that the people of Monmouthshire are able to feel safe. I am particularly concerned about the increase in prisoners who are housed in open prisons despite being clearly undeserving of the trust that this places in them.
“It was disquieting to learn from an official that housing sex offenders in Prescoed is a necessary test to determine whether they can live within the boundaries dictated to them. To me, any “test” which puts peoples’ lives on the line and makes them feel afraid and threatened in their own homes is not a test that should be carried out in Monmouthshire, or indeed anywhere. This is gross neglect of public safety and must end.
“I believe that the situation at Prescoed has reached critical dimensions and it is vital that the local residents believe that their concerns are being heard and acted upon. I feel that this meeting was the first step on a long road to a common-sense policy and am cautiously optimistic that, in the long term, we may see a change in Home Office thinking on this matter.”