This in from the office of Simon Hayes, in his own words. Ed
On the day that new arrangements for managing offenders come into place as part of the Government’s Transforming Rehabilitation agenda, Simon Hayes, Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, has published a White Paper (embedded below for your convenience) setting out six recommendations aimed at reducing reoffending.
The recommendations have evolved from the first Winchester Conference on Reducing Reoffending held in March, which was jointly hosted by the Commissioner and the High Sheriff of Hampshire, Rupert Younger.
A highly experienced international panel contributed to the Conference including Steve Brine MP and member of the Justice Select Committee, Greg Berman of the Center of Court Innovation in New York, Chief Constable Andy Marsh and Sir Anthony Salz chair of the independent Commission on Youth Crime and Anti Social Behaviour.
Simon Hayes comments on the White Paper:
“I have previously expressed major concerns about the Government’s Transforming Rehabilitation agenda because of the indecent haste with which it was introduced and the risk posed by introducing profit into the criminal justice system.
“The reality is that from June 1 national changes to probation will come into force and I am determined to use my role as Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to work with colleagues in the criminal justice system to ensure that, together, we continue to protect people and places at a time of such significant change. With UK prisons beyond full capacity, the Winchester Conference White Paper calls for fresh and innovative approaches to rehabilitation to reduce reoffending.”
The recommendations
The six recommendations are based on evidence and experiences shared at the Conference by those who give, manage and serve custodial sentences. They are:
- Local Police and Crime Commissioners should be empowered to hold the local community rehabilitating company to account for delivery against the Commissioner’s reducing reoffending objectives, where they exist.
- The Government should evaluate the spend on custodial sentencing and promote more innovative approaches to reducing reoffending
- Government should form an independent cross party commission to implement and monitor the changes and alleviate concerns about political cycles and rapid changes in direction of justice policy.
- Government should reform sentencing guidelines and introduce the ability for the court system to dispense and monitor community justice resolutions
- Government should encourage intensive and whole family intervention to commence at custody
- The Government should engage more proactively to support ex-offenders and their family
Steve Brine MP, who sits on the Justice Select Committee and spoke at the Conference, will be presenting the White Paper to the Committee.
Steve Brine adds,
“It was so good that a conference such as this was held at all, let alone that it was in Winchester. We must reduce offending and we are because crime is falling but we have to do better on the revolving door and that means tackling those sentenced to under 12-months custody.”
Image: © Used with the kind permission of Eastleigh News
