Accommodation for People Leaving Cardiff Prison

Part of 3. Topical Questions – in the Senedd at 3:14 pm on 13 February 2019.

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Photo of David Melding David Melding Conservative 3:14, 13 February 2019

I think it is a matter for the UK Government and the Welsh Government working together, and a particular difficulty, I think, comes from short sentences, and we've seen an increase in the number of people subjected to short sentences, very often for offences that do not include violence against the person, for instance. Obviously, if we use community punishments, there is a much greater chance of ensuring that the housing situation of the person is not affected. And there is some evidence there's a bit of a cycle where some people are choosing to commit another offence and get back in prison because that's at least a secure roof for them. And this is an appalling dysfunction. It serves no-one any interest whatsoever, and we do need a much better, joined-up approach to this. But at least limiting to the very minimum the number of sentences under one year I think is a good start.