Legal News
Justice Secretary scraps ban on book parcels for prisoners (13 July 2015)
Date: 13/07/2015
Justice Secretary Michael Gove is to scrap a ban on books being sent to prisoners in jail, after saying prisoners should not be “sitting around idly in their cells”.
The ban on books being sent to prisons was introduced by former Justice Secretary Chris Grayling in 2013, over concerns that parcels containing books for prisoners had the potential to be a vehicle for “contraband” if prison staff did not have the time to check the parcels thoroughly.
The ban caused a backlash, with some prisoners claiming it would affect their rights to access books for courses they were studying, including Open University courses.
Mr Gove has said that prisoners should be improving their literacy skills to get a job when they are released from prison, the Daily Mail reports.
Under the new rules, families of prisoners will be able to send them parcels of books directly.
A limit on prisoners keeping more than 12 books in their cell will also be scrapped.
A ban on parcels being sent to prisoners in all but exceptional circumstances will remain – parcels containing solely books will be an exception, however.
From September, friends, churches, charities and other parties will also be able to send books directly to prisoners in jail.
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