Prisongate by Sir David Ramsbotham

This book has just been published in the UK by Simon and Shuster and is Sir David's account of his time as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons.

He was not liked by the Prison Service and judging by the excerpts I have seen, it pulls no punches about how 'Prison Doesn't Work', the cost of crime etc. It will certainly not go down well with our current Home Secretary, who seems to believe that dropping litter should mean life without remission! (Sir David was actually appointed by John Major I believe!)

I suggest that if you don't read it, you at least watch out for Sir David.

He is actually a very interesting man, being a career soldier, who retired as a General. He first got a reputation with the media, when he abolished the practice of getting officers to explain what had happened in say a shooting incident in Northern Ireland. He was the man who got the ordinary soldiers who'd been there in front of the media. Polished it may not have been, but it gave the right impression.

When I have heard him talk, he has always impressed me as a man of real humanity and great depth, who is always seeking the truth.

The Government certainly didn't like his attitude and were glad he'd gone.

This book might change a few things!

He would make a very good and interesting speaker at any conference on Crime and Punishment!