MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
News Release (032-08) issued by The Government News Network on 9
April 2008
A consultation on
a new drive to reduce re-offending was launched today to establish
how Probation Boards and Trusts will provide the most
cost-effective route to help rehabilitate and punish offenders.
Six new Probation Trusts were established on 1st April as part of
the Government's drive to cut crime. Trust status will allow
probation services more independence to focus their work on local
communities and reduce re-offending while providing a high level
of service to the courts and oversight of offenders.
During the passage of the Offender Management Act 2007, the
Government signalled a move away from a regime in which probation
areas sub-contract a specified proportion of their work. Instead,
they will be adopting a system of Best Value similar to that used
by local government. Under this model, Probation Boards and Trusts
will need to ensure that services are continuously improved by the
provider delivering the best value for money from the public,
private or voluntary sector.
Minister for Justice David Hanson MP said:
"Probation services across the country play a key role in
supporting offenders to turn away from crime. They give help and
support in tackling drug or alcohol abuse, finding employment or
housing, and provide vital support to maintain family ties. They
also support courts to assess how best to work with offenders and
crucially ensure offenders understand the impact of their
behaviour on victims.
"We want the best possible systems in place to manage
offenders in the community, to protect the public and to reduce re-offending.
"Inevitably, with change comes concern. I am therefore
determined to have an open relationship with all parties and fully
consult to allow everyone to feed in their thoughts as to how the
new services should develop.
"I am committed to cutting crime and am currently working
closely with my colleagues in the Home Office to ensure the new
Local Area Agreements reflect our priorities to enhance community
safety and reduce re-offending. I attended a meeting in the North
West yesterday to continue this work and discuss best practice in
the area."
The Best Value consultation will run until 2 July 2008 to ensure
a comprehensive framework is established for all Trusts and Boards
to use in the future.
Crime has fallen by over a third since 1997, with significant
input from the Probation Service. Last year alone the Probation
Service worked with 200,000 offenders, providing over six millions
hours of unpaid work and supporting over 15,000 offenders with
intensive substance misuse treatment.
Best Value was introduced into local government in April 2000,
under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1999. It placed
on local authorities a duty to make arrangements to secure
continuous improvement in the way in which they carried out their
functions, with regard to economy, efficiency and effectiveness.
The proposed Best Value framework on which we are consulting draws
on the local government experience, but is tailored to the unique
needs of probation.
However, as part of the Offender Management Act 2007 the
provision of assistance to courts will be retained within the
public sector until Parliament agrees otherwise. There is also a
wider commitment to retain the management of offenders (such as
supervising offenders in custody or on licence) in the public
sector until 2010.
Notes to Editors
1. Copies of the consultation document can be accessed at http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/cp0608.htm.
http://www.justice.gov.uk
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