'Prisons are failing the public'

The Government and prison service are today accused of failing to protect the public against crime because too many offenders are released from jail without any effort to make them go straight.

The criticism comes from Anne Owers, the new chief inspector of prisons, who took over in summer when the Government decided not to renew the contract of Sir David Ramsbotham.

Her report, published jointly with chief inspector of probation Rod Morgan, says there is no overall strategy for dealing with released prisoners.

Figures show 90 per cent leave jail without a job, a third lose their homes while in prison and 40 per cent will be homeless on release. Within two years of leaving jail, more half of all offenders and nearly 80 per cent of those with five previous convictions or more are convicted again.