Ex-minister’s radical plans to teach lags deadly martial arts such as kickboxing gets rejected with public humiliation
Philip Lee's idea was formally rejected and circulated after he resigned two weeks ago
THE CABINET have savaged ex-minister Philip Lee’s plans to teach violent lags deadly martial arts in a withering public humiliation, The Sun can reveal.
Tory party chief Brandon Lewis circulated a damning letter around Whitehall formally rejecting the proposal from the departed Justice Minister who walked out of Government over Brexit two weeks ago.
He warned training prisoners in “combat” would make them more dangerous when they are out and “enhanced” to commit worse crimes.
Mr Lee’s daft idea was suggested before he resigned and would have seen young offenders trained in kung fu and kickboxing - despite soaring levels of prison violence.
The staggering recommendation in a “Sport in Prisons” report came despite record levels of violence across the prison estate with an average of two assaults on prison guards every HOUR.
It was first revealed by The Sun last week, but now the Government have formally rejected the plan.
In his Cabinet “write round” letter - seen by all departments - Mr Lewis vetoed the policy and said it would “invariably result in further crimes being committed.”
Mr Lewis wrote: “The highest proportion of offenders are there for violence against the person offences.
“I do not believe the public would find favour with the concept of giving combat sports training to those who have been sent to jail for violent conduct, or indeed, to those convicted to sexual offences or robbery.
“Indeed, given a proportion will sadly re-offend, this would invariably result in further crimes being committed - aided by their enhanced combat training.
“I would not want a position where the Government could end up being held responsible for harm to victims, that could be viewed as a consequence of a change in government policy.”
And the letter cited concern from prison staff about the plan.
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Last week the stunned Prison Officers Association (POA) said the call highlighted how “removed from reality” ministers are about the situation in Britain’s jails.
Steve Gillan, secretary general of the POA, told The Sun: “Philip Lee must be punch drunk to think to suggest this.
“It wouldn’t have been helpful for our members who are facing the risk of serious assault on a daily basis.”
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