An examination the lessons that can be learnt from the UK's experience of politicians pursuing populist policies on crime and justice at a time when Government funding for law and order has been reducing. The session will draw on the data showing sharply rising self harm and levels of prison violence. The aim is to draw out lessons from this UK experience to help other jurisdictions. It will include an analysis of the impact of reducing the real value of wages for prison and probation staff for staff churn and staff morale. In particular, it will examine the effect of the loss of many of the most experienced front line staff on control and order in prisons. Based on the detailed analysis of what has happened in the UK over the last ten years, the session will look at the ways in which prison managers, penal pressure groups, independent inspectorates and others who work in prison can influence political decision making to ensure the return to safe and effective working of both Prison and Probation Services.