EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF PUBLIC SERVICES UNION EUROPEAN ACTION DAY

That this House notes that on 28th February 2008, the European Federation of Public Service Unions and its affiliates from 10 countries including the Public and Commercial Services Union and the Royal College of Nursing in the United Kingdom are organising a European Action Day to raise awareness on the European-wide issue of prison overcrowding; further notes that with the prison population increasing in almost all EU countries over the past decade to currently stand at over 600,000, a majority of prisons in Europe are facing overcrowding problems with more prisoners than establishments can accommodate in a physically and psychologically healthy and humane way; further notes that there are on average 25 per cent. more detainees than facilities are designed for; and calls on the Government to work with trade unions and other stakeholders within the criminal justice system to improve the working and living conditions in prisons and to reduce the numbers of prisoners by improving and investing in prevention, legal protection, alternatives to imprisonment and rehabilitation.