Clinks Members’ Policy Briefing | June 2015
In this month's edition...Policy news
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The Queen’s speech: 27th May 2015 At the state opening of Parliament 2015, the Queen’s speech set out the government’s policies and proposed legislative programme for the new parliamentary session. Areas that are most relevant to Clinks members include: measures being brought forward to increase the rights of victims of crime; new legislation to improve the law on policing and new psychoactive drugs; and proposals to replace the Human Rights Act with a new British Bill of Rights. The Criminal Justice Alliance has put together a summary of the announcements that can be accessed here.
Ministerial appointments Following the 2015 general election, Prime Minister David Cameron has formed a government. Ministry of Justice appointments include: The Rt. Hon Michael Gove has become Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice; Caroline Dinenage has become Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Women, Equalities and Family Justice; and Dominic Raab has become Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Minister for Human Rights.
Launch of new alliance for women and girls Chaired by Baroness Lola Young of Hornsey, AGENDA is a new alliance that aims to tackle the increasing number of women and girls experiencing inequality, violence, abuse and trauma. The Alliance will focus on effective responses to the triumvirate of social inequality, violence, abuse and gender expectations that is the root cause of many problems in adolescence and adulthood.
Publications
Clinks publications
Clinks response to the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) consultation on regulating health and social care in prisons and young offender institutions, and health care in immigration removal centres The CQC and HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) have developed a joint inspection framework which intends to support them to develop a holistic and coherent view of health within secure settings. It aims to hold providers to account but also work with them to identify wider health issues. Our response and recommendations to the CQC are based on discussions with Clinks members at two workshops which we held in London and Leeds.
Solutions from the Frontline This report, published by Making Every Adult Matter (a coalition of Clinks, Homeless Link and Mind) is based on the ideas and experiences of people with multiple needs. It sets out recommendations for the new Government, as well as local policy makers and commissioners, about how they can act to reduce stigma, improve services, and support people to achieve their ambitions.
Criminal Justice System
Transforming Rehabilitation: Early implementation 2 This report by HM Inspectorate of Probation reports findings from inspections undertaken between December 2014 and January 2015 on the early implementation of Transforming Rehabilitation. It found that adult probation services present a mixed picture, with many challenges remaining. The report gives 20 recommendations including: NOMS should evaluate the value and purpose of completing the Risk of Series Recidivism tool in all cases prior to allocation; the National Probation Service (NPS) and the Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) must ensure that relevant information that they hold is shared efficiently at the court hearing stage; and where a case is accepted, by the NPS, as representing a high risk of harm there should be a face to face meeting between the offender and the offender manager as soon as possible.
Prison service journal 2019 This edition of the prison service journal is based around two broad themes: recognising the diversity of prisoners' needs and experiences as well as the profound issues of power and inequality within the prison system; and the effectiveness of prison regimes as a means of transforming the lives of prisoners. Article titles include: exploration of a transfemale prisoner’s experience of a Prison Therapeutic Community; Becoming visible, Gypsy Roma Travellers in Prison; and Adaptation, the meaning of imprisonment and outcomes after release - the impact of the prison regime.
Joint review of Disability Hate Crime follow up In March 2013 the first joint review of how the police, Crown Prosecution Service and probation trusts respond to disability hate crime was published. This Criminal Justice Joint Inspection follow-up report argues that insufficient progress has been made against the seven recommendations in the initial report. It goes on to say that an opportunity to achieve improvements in the Criminal Justice System for all members of society has not yet been taken.
Criminal justice statistics
Criminal Justice System (CJS) statistics quarterly: December 2014 This report, published by the Ministry of Justice gives information about proven offending and its outcomes in England and Wales. It also provides an accompanying commentary, analysis and presentation of longer term trends. Key findings include: the total number of individuals dealt with formally by the CJS is now at a recorded low; the use of out of court disposals has continued to decrease; the number of offenders convicted and sentenced increased by 3%; the number of first time entrants dealt with by the CJS has fallen by 52% since 2007; and prosecutions for sexual offences have increased by 9%.
Justice Data Lab statistics: May 2015 The Ministry of Justice's Justice Data Lab has published its latest report, summarising the requests for re-offending information for the period 2nd April 2013 to 30th April 2015. Since the last report in April, Justice Data Lab has analysed a request from 39 Women’s Centres throughout England, providing analysis of the support they provide against a matched national comparison group. This analysis shows statistically significant results in the one year proven re-offending rate.
Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs)
Engaging with Police and crime commissioners (PCCs) webinar Clinks delivered a webinar in partnership with NCVO that gives five top tips for engaging with police and crime commissioners. These tips include: do your homework; make the case for voluntary sector involvement; explore different routes to engagement; demonstrate your impact; and encourage compact working. The webinar includes links to further resources.
Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) spotlight: mental health This briefing by Revolving Doors Agency details areas where PCCs are working with local partners to improve responses for people facing mental health problems who come into contact with the police. The briefing also highlights particular areas where PCCS are going beyond the national agenda to develop innovative practice - including where they have extended improvements to groups including those experiencing multiple and complex needs.
Women
Supporting women with personality disorder Our latest case study looks at Community Links’ Changes project and the vital support they provide to women with personality disorder in Yorkshire. People with this disorder can find learning from past experiences, and changing their behaviour to cope with life, more challenging than other people. This case study looks at the support provided, what it's like to work with this client group, how the project is funded, and a client's individual journey through the service. Ben Watson, Communications Assistant at Clinks has written a blog about the case study that you can access here.
Youth justice
Referral order guidance Published jointly by the Ministry of Justice and Youth Justice Board, this revised guidance is intended for youth offender teams and youth offender panel members. It gives information on the legislation that creates referral orders; youth offender panels and their part in the referral process; making the orders in court; the role of youth offending teams; and recruiting, training and supporting panel members.
The role of the Youth Justice Board in preventing child sexual exploitation and harmful sexual behaviour This report published by the Youth Justice Board gives recent examples of the work they have done to identify and prevent child sexual exploitation as well as details of forthcoming work.
Employment
Recruiting safely and fairly: a practical guide to employing ex-offenders Published by Nacro, this document is a tool for employers which aims to help businesses understand their legal rights and responsibilities relating to working with people who have histories of offending; update and implement safer and fair recruitment policies and procedures; and manage/mitigate any potential risks.
Drug and alcohol related crime
Research and policy papers demonstrating what works in reducing drug and alcohol related crime RAPt have published three research and policy papers based on evidence they have compiled into what works in reducing drug and alcohol related crime. The papers focus on key areas of their work: why reducing drug-related crime is important; substance misuse and mental health in prison; and a successful approach to tackling drug related crime. RAPt will publish further resources throughout the year.
Arts
'Supporting employability and personal effectiveness (SEPE) through the arts: international evaluation of this European Project' SEPE is a qualification first conceived by the University of Exeter, developed and accredited by Edexcel and piloted through Superact in prisons in five European countries - the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Italy and Turkey. This report by Jo Cursley examines the challenges and successes of introducing SEPE and notes that the results were in part determined by the culture of each country and prison, as well as the experience and outlook of the individual artists running the project.
Restorative Justice
A victim’s guide to restorative justice This video is aimed at victims who are considering taking part in restorative justice but have questions about what to do next. It gives details about the different points in the criminal justice process where restorative justice can be accessed and informs victims about who they can contact if they would like to make use of this approach.
Homelessness
What a difference faith makes... to homelessness This report by Faith Action presents a dual role for faith-based organisations working in homelessness - meeting frontline practical support requirements and providing advocacy to influence public and political debate. The report also makes a series of recommendations for government and people working on the front-line of homelessness including: acknowledge that holistic work with homeless people is not just a ‘cost’ but a long-term ‘cost saver’; recognise that addressing homelessness takes everyone’s involvement; invest in creating safe, genuinely affordable and sustainable housing, as a public good.
BlogsCelebrating success with Anawim Hazel Alcraft, Clinks' Membership & Health Coordinator, visited Anawim, a women’s centre in Balsall Heath, Birmingham, to attend their very first awards ceremony. In her blog about the visit, Hazel writes "I heard so many inspiring stories of the transformational change taking place in people’s lives, aided by the staff and support services that Anawim offer to local women. There was clear evidence of the strong partnerships Anawim has built with other services . . . and a glowing praise from staff at the local Community Rehabilitation Company. Amidst all the change in the Criminal Justice System and wider economic climate, the work of organisations like Anawim is as important as ever, quietly getting on with making a tangible difference to so many women’s lives."
Join up education and employment services In this blog, Nina Champion, Policy Manager at Prisoners Education Trust gives details of a presentation she gave at an event organised by the Employment Related Services Association (ERSA) and the Association for Employment and Learning Providers (AELP), who she outlines ‘are committed to joining up employment services and prison education so that when learners leave prison they can capitalise on their qualifications and get working.’
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