How Not to Do It
Analysis6 Feb 2017

How Not to Do It

Jacqui Smith, the former Labour home secretary, investigates why government policies fail, focusing on one of her party's most cherished reforms.

Indeterminate sentences for public protection (IPPs) were devised by David Blunkett and the Home Office to reassure voters that those convicted of serious violent and sexual offences would stay in prison until they could show by their changed behaviour that they could safely be released.

But much larger numbers of offenders received the sentences than had been expected and, as the prison population rose, jails struggled to provide the facilities IPP prisoners needed to show that they had reformed. The new sentencing structure, first passed in 2003, had to be drastically changed by Labour in 2008 and finally to be repealed by the coalition four years after that.

Jacqui Smith discovers the reasons why the change in sentencing was embarked upon, why its potential flaws weren't detected before its introduction and why the policy was maintained even as problems mounted. She considers the difficult legacy of IPPs - for those still in prison and for politicians devising shiny new initiatives in other fields of government.

Among those taking part: David Blunkett, Kenneth Clarke, Lord Judge, Professor Nick Hardwick.

Producer: Simon Coates.

Episoder(389)

China's Captured "Princess"

China's Captured "Princess"

If you want to understand the global reach of a rising China, visit Vancouver. Canada has been sucked in to an intractable dispute between the US and China after the arrest on an American warrant of M...

2 Mar 202028min

It's Not Easy Being Green

It's Not Easy Being Green

If the future of politics must include tackling climate change, it holds that the future should be bright for the Greens. In parts of Europe, their influence is growing. In Germany the Green Party is...

24 Feb 202028min

Do voters need therapy?

Do voters need therapy?

In a poll last year, two thirds of people suggested that Britain’s exit from the EU was negatively affecting the nation’s mental health. But is that really about customs unions and widget regulations,...

17 Feb 202029min

The Early Years Miracle?

The Early Years Miracle?

The government spends billions on free early years education. The theory goes that this is good for children, their parents and society as a whole. But does the evidence stack up? Despite the policy...

10 Feb 202028min

The NHS, AI and Our Data

The NHS, AI and Our Data

The NHS has a unique resource - data. David Edmonds asks whether a combination of data and Artificial Intelligence will transform the future of the NHS. The programme features among others Sir John B...

3 Feb 202028min

Get woke or go broke?

Get woke or go broke?

When you buy your trainers, do you want to make a political statement? Businesses want to attract consumers by advertising their commitment to liberal causes like diversity and tackling climate chan...

27 Jan 202028min

NATO at 70

NATO at 70

NATO’s military strength and unswerving trans-Atlantic solidarity enabled it to contain and ultimately defeat the Soviet Union. But with Vladimir Putin’s Russia resurgent, and eager to restore some o...

18 Nov 201928min

The uses and misuses of history in politics

The uses and misuses of history in politics

Barely a day passes when an MP doesn’t reach for an historical analogy to help explain contemporary events. But to what extent do the Battle of Agincourt and World War II really help us better unders...

11 Nov 201928min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
aftenpodden-usa
forklart
stopp-verden
popradet
dine-penger-pengeradet
rss-gukild-johaug
det-store-bildet
nokon-ma-ga
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
hanna-de-heldige
fotballpodden-2
rss-ness
aftenbla-bla
rss-espen-lee-usensurert
e24-podden
rss-dannet-uten-piano
rss-utenrikskomiteen-med-bogen-og-grasvik
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk