Parole Board Recommendations: Open Conditions - Question

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 11:28 am on 25 May 2023.

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Photo of Lord Bellamy Lord Bellamy The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice 11:28, 25 May 2023

My Lords, the Secretary of State, when introducing these new rules in January 2022, prioritised the precautionary principle and the protection of the public. Despite enormous pressure on the closed estate, he took the view—in my view rightly—that public protection was more important than the short-term expedient of transferring prisoners who are not suitable for open conditions to open conditions simply to reduce pressures on the closed estate.