Prison Overcrowding “further aggravated” by privatisation
European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU
Media Calling Notice: www.epsu.org/prisons
To EU media correspondents
Prison Overcrowding “further aggravated” by privatisation
Prison Staff organisations announce 28 February Brussels rally to put prison overcrowding on EU agenda
(20 February 2007, Brussels) The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) announces a rally; ‘NO to Prison Overcrowding’ to coincide with the meeting of EU Justice and Home Affairs Ministers on 28 February (rally to be supported by actions throughout Europe).
ISSUE: At present, prisons in the EU are at 125% capacity. Plans in a number of EU countries to build privately run prison facilities, are making worse an already difficult situation. The consequences of prison overcrowding are damaging the lives of prison staff, and damaging society.
FACT! Since the creation of private prisons in the US, the prison population has dramatically increased: from less than 300,000 in 1972 to more than 2 million today. Prisoners become a source of profit and cheap labour.
FACT! With a total of 11 private jails, the UK already has the most privatised prison system in Europe. 59% of public sector Prisons are overcrowded, whilst in the private sector this figure increases to 72%.
EPSU General Secretary Carola Fischbach-Pyttel stated that; “Privatisation clearly further aggravates prison overcrowding. Private Prison owners see prisoners literally as a growth market. This is wrong for prisoners, wrong for prison staff, and wrong for society”.
Full EPSU briefing on prison overcrowding here: (including causes, consequences, solutions and statistics
The action, involving 400+ prison staff from all over Europe, will take place outside the Council of Ministers building (Justus Lipsius) from 12h00-15h00 on 28 February. The aim of the rally is to demand that the issue of Prison Overcrowding is put on the EU agenda, and in particular that prison working conditions are improved by a reduction in prisoner numbers. The Action Day will be backed up by events by prison staff, and representatives, in 10 other European Union member states The rally organisers expect to be received by the Slovenian EU Presidency representatives (hosting the Justice Ministers meeting). European and National trade union leaders will be available for interview throughout the day. For details please contact Brian Synnott +32 2 250 10 89 bsynnott@epsu.org
EPSU regards this rally as the start of a sustained campaign calling for an improvement in prison working conditions.
WHERE? WHEN? On the time, place of the rally go here
EPSU Action Plan on Prisons available here
Note to Photo Journalists/ News Editors: The participants will construct a life-size prison cell filled with “prisoners” to illustrate the problems of overcrowding.
Contact details: For further information, please contact EPSU Press Officer Brian Synnott, at + 32 474 98 96 75 or bsynnott@epsu.org
"EPSU is the European Federation of Public Service Unions. It is the largest federation of the ETUC. 8 million public service workers from over 200 trade unions are members. They organise workers in the energy, water and waste sectors, health and social services and local and national administration".
About us