Sailesh Mehta contributes to the debate on “Supermax prisons”

Sailesh appeared on the Nick Ferrari show on LBC Radio this morning to discuss following the alleged attack on a guard by Southport killer Axel Rudakubana – an incident that has sparked renewed calls for US-style prison controls.

Sailesh commented: “Supermax prisons are ONE answer to the current problem of increasing violence on prison staff. But it is not the BEST answer. We have increased the prison population over the last 30 years with longer and more frequent jail sentences, without a proportionate increase in prison spaces or prison staff. As a result, violence (self-harm, suicide and violence towards others) and mental health issues have increased significantly. Previously, very violent prisoners were adequately dealt with without excessive risks to staff – now the balance has shifted.”

Sailesh argued that Supermax prisons, like those in the United States, come with significant drawbacks. They are extremely costly to maintain, often exacerbate violence among inmates, and lead to severe long-term mental health issues for both prisoners and staff. These facilities also tend to produce high rates of recidivism, calling into question their overall effectiveness. Many lawyers and judges oppose them on human rights grounds, arguing that they are more of a political gesture than a practical solution.

He concluded: “The simple solution is to build more prisons, employ more staff, focus on education and mental health in prison, and support prisoners when released. And only imprison those that really can’t be dealt with in a non-custodial way. Other countries have tried this approach and it has worked.”

Listen from 01:12:57 [LBC Global Player]