Female prisoners to be given more support
With 81% behind bars for non-violent crimes, more support for female prisoners is needed, the new justice minister tells Daybreak.
Inmates must 'earn' priviliges under prison shake-up
The Justice Secretary is to unveil changes to the system of privileges in jail with the aim of ensuring that perks are actively earned.
Convicted murderer escapes from Pentonville prison
John Massey escaped from Pentonville prison yesterday evening. The public are urged not to approach him, but to call 999 if they see him.
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Parole hearings 'may treble' after fairness ruling
The Parole Board has said it may have to deal with three times as many hearings next year, following a court ruling on fairness for prisoners.
Following a ruling by the Supreme Court in October prisoners are entitled to oral hearings even if they are unlikely to be released or transferred.
This means the number of hearings could increase from 4,500 to 14,000, according to the Parole Board for England and Wales' annual report.
Two inmates escape from open prison in Lancashire
Two inmates have escaped from HMP Kirkham open prison in Lancashire, police have said.
Philip Stephenson, 33, who was serving a sentence for firearms offences and burglar Gareth Robinson, 24, are believed to have fled in a silver Volkswagen Golf to the Oldham area, where they are both from.
Detective Chief Inspector John Mazzolai, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "Neither of these men has been seen since they escaped from prison on Saturday.
"They are not to be approached by members of the public, but if anyone sees them or knows of their whereabouts, please contact GMP on 101 immediately or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."
Read more: Prisoners escape from Kirkham prison in Lancashire
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Convicted burglar absconds from prison in Doncaster
A 24-year-old convicted burglar has absconded from prison in Doncaster, police said.
Damian Pearson fled from HMP Hatfield in Doncaster at around 7am, South Yorkshire Police said.
Appeal to locate 24yo Damian Pearson who absconded from HMP Hatfield this morning (29/6/14) - call 101 with info http://t.co/W1zKXHKFtJ
Mr Pearson was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for burglary in 2013. He is white, 6ft 1ins tall, of slim build and has links to Doncaster, in particular the Wheatley Park area.
Police has advised members of the public not to approach him.
Young offenders will be ordered to go to bed early
Young offenders will be ordered to go to bed early under strict new rules announced by the justice secretary.
Chris Grayling has announced that 15-17 year-olds in English institutions will have to be in their cells with lights out by 10.30pm.
"In some prisons young people are allowed to go to bed when they please. I don't think that is right. Stopping this inconsistency and introducing a strict 'lights out' policy is all part of our approach to addressing youth offending," the justice secretary said.
Teenagers who refuse to obey the new rules will be penalised and lose privileges such as access to a television.
More than 800 under-18s are serving custodial sentences in young offenders institutions.
Mr Grayling said: "It is also crucial that young people, most of whom have had chaotic and troubled lives finally get the discipline so badly needed to help turn their lives around.
Read: Calls to wipe criminal records for law abiding teenagers
Minister calls sun cream offer to inmates 'foolish'
An offer of sunscreen to inmates who climbed onto a jail's roof in hot weather was "foolish", the prisons minister has said.
Jeremy Wright said that he has ordered an immediate review into the matter.
"This should not have happened," Mr Wright said.
"There should be no policies in place which promote this kind of foolishness and I have ordered an immediate review of this incident to ensure that it does not happen again."
Prisoners who climbed on jail's roof offered sun cream
Two prisoners who climbed onto a jail's roof in hot weather were offered sun cream by staff "in line with health and safety rules."
The duo turned down their offer during the incident at Dartmoor prison earlier this month.
It is not clear how the inmates managed to get onto the roof or which building on the Devon site was involved.
The Ministry of Justice said the suntan lotion offer was due to health and safety rules.
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Killer jailed for life missing from a mental health centre
A convicted killer jailed for life for raping a disabled woman has absconded from a mental health centre.
Police have launched a manhunt after Samuel Lee, 44, failed to return from an authorised trip from the John Howard Centre in Hackney on Thursday.
He is serving a life sentence for snatching and raping a 31-year-old cerebral palsy sufferer in London in 2000.
In 1989, he was jailed for manslaughter after he stabbed a man to death.
Police are warning the public not to approach Lee, who they warned could turn "violent".
Lee, who is black, of stocky build and 5ft 9ins tall, suffers from Schizotypal disorder which is a mild form of Schizophrenia.
Two inmates missing from Hatfield Prison re-captured
Two prisoners who went missing from a prison in South Yorkshire have been arrested, police said.
Doncaster prison absconders located and arrested http://t.co/roY4LO54cp
Damien Burns and Dean Jackson absconded from category D Hatfield Prison on Tuesday.
Police launch manhunt for two prisoners on the run
Two more prisoners have gone on the run from an open prison, Cheshire police have said. The pair are the latest in a string of inmates who have escaped from prisons in recent weeks.
Anthony Peloe, 43, who was serving an indeterminate sentence for possessing firearms with intent to cause harm, and John Arnold, 30, a convicted robber, absconded from Thorn Cross open prison in Warrington, Cheshire, on Tuesday morning.
Public should not approach the prisoners, police said. "My advice to any member of the public who sees them is not to approach them, but to immediately ring police on 999," Superintendent Martin Cleworth of Warrington police said.
Two other prisoners, Damien Burns, 39, and Dean Jackson, 27, are missing from the category D Hatfield Prison, the police revealed on Tuesday.
Prisons minister to tighten temporary release rules
Prisons Minister Jeremy Wright has said the current system for allowing prisoners out on temporary licence is "too lax", after a murderer and a robber failed to return to their prison in Liverpool.
Wright said he will make "major changes" to address the shortfalls in the system.
He said: "There will shortly be significant restrictions on who is granted temporary release – which from now on must be earnt – tightening up of monitoring arrangements and abolishing any leave without a clear link to rehabilitation."
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