Jail terms of less than six months are to be banned as the government backs greater use of “robust” community sentences to reduce the prison population.
Ministers will also target wealthy crime bosses with high-tech measures to track their earnings and spending after they leave prison to ensure that they do not lead “luxurious” lifestyles.
David Gauke, the justice secretary, launched a shake-up of the penal regime for England and Wales yesterday, saying that in some cases “prison isn’t working”. He said he would “legislate if necessary” to stop judges handing down sentences of less than six months in all but the most exceptional cases.
In a speech at Westminster Mr Gauke said the high rate of reoffending for those on shorter sentences meant that
