Bishop Treweek Calls for Urgent Prison Reform Amid Rising Unrest in the UK

“If at the end of that there is no transformation and change then what do we think we are doing? Within a year of release, around 50% of prisoners are re-offending – what we’re doing is not working.”

The Church of England’s Bishop for Prisons, the Right Rev Rachel Treweek, has issued a stark warning about the current state of the UK’s prison system, following a wave of unrest across the nation. In a candid interview with BBC Gloucestershire, Bishop Treweek, who also serves as the Bishop of Gloucester, highlighted the alarming reoffending rates and the high cost of incarceration. “We are spending £50,000 per person each year to incarcerate, yet nearly 50% reoffend within a year of release. What we’re doing is not working,” she stressed. The recent disturbances, which have led to hundreds being jailed, were ignited by the tragic killings of three young girls in Southport. Bishop Treweek emphasized the need for rehabilitation over punishment, pointing out the deep-rooted trauma many inmates face and the overcrowded conditions that impede meaningful reform.

Bishop Treweek’s call for a paradigm shift in prison policy is both timely and critical. She argues that without addressing the underlying issues that drive criminal behavior, the cycle of reoffending will continue unabated. “The loss of liberty is the punishment,” she remarked, advocating for prisons to focus on rehabilitation rather than retribution. The Bishop also highlighted the stigma ex-offenders face, particularly in securing employment, which often leads them back into criminal activity. As tensions rise and public safety becomes an increasing concern, her plea for a more compassionate and effective approach to justice is a crucial reminder that long-term change requires more than just longer sentences—it requires transformation.