Grimsdale's Ire: 06/01/09

David Cameron calls for league tables to improve UK prisons: Cameron criticises size of Titan prisons and attacks lack of focus on rehabilitation
"David Cameron said today that he would introduce league tables for prisons to cut reoffending rates with an increased emphasis on rehabilitation and follow-up care after release. The Tory leader also indicated that he was against the government's "Titan prisons", which he thought were a "bad idea".

"The idea that big is beautiful with prisons is wrong," he told 20 handpicked members of the public in Manchester, in a session led by Channel M television presenter Andy Crane. "I have spent some time in prison – purely in a professional capacity – at Wandsworth prison and was profoundly depressed by the size and impersonality," Cameron said. "I asked the governor what percentage offend when they leave prison and he couldn't tell me..."The system is not designed that way; it is just designed to put them in prison and hold them there, locked in cells for up to 23 hours a day, and then let them out. Every other public service is paid for by result."" [Guardian]

Gambling levy to be forced on gaming firms: "Sports minister outlines plans for levy to fund treatment of problem gamblers
"Gambling companies may have to pay a compulsory £5m-a-year levy because of their "very disappointing" failure to fully fund treatment for gambling addicts, the government said today. Publishing a consultation paper, sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe said the money would be used to fund helplines and treatment centres for gambling addicts, as well as to pay for research.

Sutcliffe said the government was resorting to a compulsory levy because gaming firms were failing to fund this sort of treatment on a voluntary basis. The industry has three months to draft an acceptable voluntary scheme or the government will quickly impose its alternative." [Guardian]

Iceland may take UK to European court over freezing of bank assets: Reykjavik hopes court of human rights will award damages after Gordon Brown froze Icelandic banks' assets
"The Icelandic government is examining "all possibilities" of dragging the British government before the European court of human rights over its decision to use anti-terror laws against the bank Landsbanki, it emerged today.

The move, revealed in a statement by the office of Iceland's prime minister, Geir Haarde, follows legal advice that a claim for damages in the UK courts would be unlikely to succeed.Reykjavik is looking at the European court as an "alternative option" to seek redress over Gordon Brown's decision to use the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 to seize assets." [Guardian]

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