MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
News Release (073-07) issued by The Government News Network on 14
June 2007
Ministers today
launched a new "toolkit" from the year-long Leicester,
Leicestershire and Rutland Demonstration Project, at the National
Alliances Conference. The Conference also provided an opportunity
to showcase good practice from around England and Wales in
developing the reducing re-offending Alliances. The Corporate,
Civic Society, and Faith and Voluntary sector Alliances, launched
in November 2005, aim to make reducing re-offending
everyone's business.
Minister for Justice Rt. Hon David Hanson MP, and the Rt. Hon
Baroness Scotland QC, Minister of State for Crime Reduction, also
welcomed the effort and dedication from those working around the
country to reduce re-offending.
David Hanson said:
"Working in partnership, the National Offender Management
Service, employers, civil communities, voluntary and faith sectors
can better address the problems which hamper an offender's
rehabilitation: education and employment, health and housing,
family troubles and drug abuse.
"The toolkit we are launching today will provide just the
sort of practical support that makes a real difference to work to
deliver reducing re-offending at a local level and to transforming
the offender into a responsible citizen.
"I am also extremely pleased to be visiting HMP Leicester
and Leicestershire and Rutland Probation Service today to see the
vital work carried out by staff to reduce re-offending and protect
the public. It has received the accolade of being the third
highest performing probation area in England and Wales this year.
Good performance is not just an indication of how hard people are
working. Those figures mean that individuals have received
something from the Service that has made a concrete difference. A
difference that will cut the likelihood of future offending."
Home Office Minister for Crime Reduction Baroness Scotland QC said:
"Crime has fallen by over a third in the last 10 years but
reducing crime remains a top priority for the Government. Reducing
re-offending is a key contributor to Crime Reduction. The
Alliances are part of our approach to join together our partners
in bringing down crime. We cannot do it alone: around half the
resources that support offenders come from outside the justice
system. In creating the Alliances we recognised that we need the
help of everyone working together to make a difference.
"We have made significant progress in taking forward the
development of the Alliances, and the cross government National
and Regional Reducing Re-offending Partnership Plans under which
they operate. I am grateful to everyone for their hard work and
contributions to this."
The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Demonstration Project
involved representatives from Leicester City Council,
Leicestershire County Council, Melton Borough Council, Oadby and
Wigston Borough Council, Rutland County Council, the National
Offender Management Service, Probation and the Prison Services,
working together in partnership to improve equality of access for
offenders to mainstream local services such as accommodation and employment.
Notes to Editors
David Hanson, Minister for Justice is visiting HMP Leicester on
Welford Road at 1pm to meet prison staff and have a tour of the
establishment. He will then be visiting the new Leicestershire and
Rutland Probation Centre in Cobden Street at 3pm which was
formally opened in 2006 and nominated for a national environment
award. Whilst there he will meet vital staff and see offenders
carrying out unpaid work at their onsite workshop. He is available
for interviews during the day.
http://www.justice.gov.uk
ENDS