European Court says UK prisoners' voting rights “breached”
Mohamed Walji
Press TV, London
Punishment or rehabilitation. UK prisoner voting rights have been breached and not for the first time. The nationwide ban restricting any prisoner to vote, was first deemed illegal in 2005 by the European Court of Human Rights. 8 years later it has emerged more than 1000 prisoners were unable to cast their vote in various elections between 2009 and 2011.
Critics argue that although this may be a welcome ruling the government will continue to ignore what the European Court of Human Rights say. Prisoners and former prisoners that haven’t been allowed to vote have been told they are not entitled to any compensation, not even to cover their legal costs.
We met with Sean Humber the lawyer who represented more than 500 of the prisoners who took action.
There are about 85,000 prisoners in England and Wales. 46% of adults are reconvicted within one year of their release. Critics argue this rate would be far lower if inmates left prison feeling they had contributed to society - for example by electing political representatives. They say removing them from this process is only counterproductive.
The Coalition government has said they are not planning to take any further action on prisoner voting before the upcoming general election.
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