In this month's edition...
London criminal justice forum
Our London criminal justice forums bring together organisations and stakeholders working across the criminal justice system in the capital. They are held three times per year, with our next forum taking place [29 July, online, free]. It is an opportunity for anyone in the sector working in London to discuss policy, network with other organisations, offer peer support and showcase work. Forums are open to all organisations working in the criminal justice system in London. Book your place here
Changes in government
On 7 July Boris Johnson announced that he was resigning as Conservative Party Leader. In the run up to Mr Johnson's resignation, many ministers resigned from his government including: Victoria Atkins, Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ); James Cartlidge, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the MoJ; Alex Chalk, Solicitor General; and Kemi Badenoch, Minister for Equalities. Kit Malthouse has been moved from his role with the Home Office (HO) and MoJ to the Cabinet Office. Mr Johnson has made a number of new appointments to his caretaker government, including: Sarah Dines and Simon Baynes being appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State jointly at the MoJ and HO; Tom Pursglove becoming a Minister of State jointly at the MoJ and HO; Stuart Andrew becoming a Minister of State at the MoJ; Edward Timpson becoming Solicitor General; and Amanda Solloway being appointed as a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Equalities). Read more here
Living with Covid-19: prisons and youth custody settings
Following the decommissioning of the National Framework, HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) are moving to a local risk-based approach. They aim to retain a focus on core protective measures, but be ready to respond quickly and act at a system level if the overall risk increases and requires it. The campaign to promote vaccination across the estate will continue; HMPPS will maintain Covid-19 surveillance through wastewater-based surveillance and a level of testing; and handwashing and other core infection prevention and control measures will be maintained along with the necessary safety equipment and PPE. Control measures will no longer directly limit the delivery of regime, except when there is an outbreak or significant increased risk of transmission. Read more here
Neurodiversity in the criminal justice system action plan
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has published their action plan in response to the Neurodiversity in the criminal justice system report from July of 2021 in an attempt to address the six recommendations that the report suggests. Positively, the MoJ has committed to working closely with all agencies involved in the criminal justice system, including those in the voluntary sector, to ensure that the needs of neurodivergent people are well met. However, they have only partially agreed to the other recommendations such as; instituting a universal screening tool, making adjustments to meet the needs of neurodivergent individuals in prison, developing a neurodivergence strategy, and the collection of improved screening data. Read the action plan here
Prison education: a review of reading in prisons action plan
HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has published its action plan, following the review of reading education in prisons. It has agreed with all six recommendations made in the review, with the plans for them to all have been completed by September 2023. The recommendations to HMPPS included that the education, skills, and work offer should include initial and ongoing assessment that pinpoint the specific knowledge and skills in reading that people in prison are missing or need to improve; a distinct part of the curriculum offer dedicated to teaching reading; and specialist training and development on teaching adults to read. Recommendations to prison governors include that they should lead a whole-prison approach to reading that facilitates reading for pleasure, purpose, and rehabilitation. Read the plan here
Prison leavers tagged to cut alcohol fuelled crime
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) have announced that from 15 June, people released from prisons in England can be banned from drinking alcohol and have their drinking electronically monitored through a tag if their probation officer thinks they could reoffend when drinking. This launch follows the scheme’s rollout in Wales last year. A person’s licence can stipulate that the alcohol tag must be worn for a minimum of 30 days, up to a maximum of one year, with reviews carried out every three months to ensure it is still necessary, reasonable, and proportionate to the risk they pose. It is also possible for the requirement to be removed and reimposed again later, if deemed necessary and proportionate to risk. Read more here
Monkeypox: prisons and places of detention
The UK Health and Security Agency has released information regarding the recent spread of Monkeypox, and the specific effect that it may potentially have on people within the detained estate. Treatment for monkeypox is mainly supportive. The illness is usually mild and most of those infected will recover within a few weeks without treatment. Further information about the clinical features of monkeypox is available. Recent cases are predominantly in gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) aged 20 to 59 years. These groups are being advised to be alert to any unusual rashes or lesions on any part of their body, especially their genitalia, and to contact a sexual health service if they have concerns. Read more here
Adult Health, Care and Wellbeing Core Capabilities Framework for Prison and Probation Staff
In January 2022, Skills for Justice were commissioned to develop a new Adult Health Care Wellbeing Core Capabilities Framework (CCF) for staff in HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) working with individuals who have health, care and wellbeing needs. This framework outlines the core knowledge, skills and behaviours required to understand and recognise individuals who have such needs, the support that is available to them and how to help them access that support. HMPPS would like to invite you to provide feedback on this draft framework by completing the questions in the following link. The framework will be published in the autumn and the consultation is open from [Mon 18 July to Fri 12 August]. Find out more here
Neurodiversity awareness
New Beginnings North CIC is pleased to offer Neurodiversity Awareness Training: Regulate.Communicate.Navigate [various dates, in-person, £75], for individuals and organisations working within the criminal justice system in the North East. The full day training is delivered face-to-face at their Hearts & Minds Hub, Easington Lane, Sunderland. Upon completion of the training, you will receive a resource pack filled with items that will support you personally, and those you work with, and a Certificate of Attendance. Available dates are: 23 September, 30 September, 03 October and 31 October. The cost of £75 per person is an introductory offer. From December the price will be £125 per person. To find out more and book your place, please contact Joanne at jvance@newbeginningsnorth.org.
Multiple disadvantage and co-occurring substance use and mental health conditions
The Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM) Coalition, of which Clinks is a member, has published a report exploring co-occurring conditions. Overall, MEAM found access to appropriate support remains extremely difficult, and systems that keep the commissioning, design, and delivery of substance use treatment and mental health services separate from one another inevitably struggle to meet the needs of people with co-occurring conditions. Their recommendations include that the Department for Health and Social Care should begin recording where, when, and how often individuals are refused mental health treatment due to an existing substance misuse issue. In addition, where appropriate, services for people likely to face co-occurring conditions should be commissioned jointly, such as services for people newly released from prison. Read the report here
Coping with Covid in prison report
User Voice, alongside academics from Queens University Belfast, have published a peer lead report investigating the effects of lockdown on people in prison during the Covid-19 pandemic. Over a period of 18 months, people in prison where trained to conduct research and survey their peers, completing a total of 1400 interviews in 11 different prisons. The research found that 85% of individuals in prison where confined to their cells for 23 hours a day during lockdown, roughly 60% percent did not have a single-family visitor, mental ill health was five times higher than in the general population, and that access to mental health support had worsened during the pandemic. Read the full report here
Do criminal sanctions reduce violence against police and NHS staff?
A new report released this week by Transform Justice suggests that not only are increased criminal sanctions ineffective in deterring violence against police and NHS staff, but they are also sweeping more people with mental health conditions, cognitive impairments and/or who are neurodivergent into the criminal justice system. Transform Justice surveyed police officers, NHS staff, defence lawyers, and people with mental health conditions who had been accused of assaulting an emergency worker, to understand how we stop rising levels of abuse. The report makes practical recommendations for how employers can improve their support to victims and give better training to staff to prevent incidents from happening. It also explores the effective options for resolving the harm without going to court, such as diversion and restorative justice. Read the report here
Ongoing impact of Covid-19 on the criminal justice system
A joint progress report from the justice inspectorates has been published, titled: The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Criminal Justice System. The report has highlighted the slow recovery and shared challenges of the criminal justice system (CJS) response to the ongoing pandemic. It found most agencies have been unable to recover to their pre-pandemic functioning with all levels of the CJS being affected, including prison, probation, policing and the courts. A key area of concern is that people in prison are still spending upwards of 23 hours in their cell every day, limiting their ability to engage in education, rehabilitation, and training. They conclude that none of the risks identified in their 2021 joint report have been mitigated in their entirety and recovery remains elusive. Read the report here
Swift, certain, tough; new consequences for drug possession
The Home Office has just published a white paper dedicated to reducing demand for drugs by introducing new “consequences” for the possession of recreational drugs. The white paper, “Swift, Certain, Tough” makes the government’s intentions clear setting out a “tough, escalatory framework aimed at adults caught in possession of low levels of so-called recreational drugs”, with a new three tier framework applying to all individuals with substance misuse issues, except where users have a drug dependence that is better dealt with by health and wellbeing care. The white paper has been roundly and systematically criticised by many in the drugs, and drugs and crime field, with specific mention of compounding racial disparity due to stop and search procedures, increased criminalisation, and perpetuating stigma for individuals suffering from addiction. Read the report here
Gambling harms
Gambleaware currently have a call out for two funds. The first, The Community Resilience Fund, aims to provide short-term funding to address inequalities experienced by disadvantaged communities - recognising that the current cost-of-living crisis will be exacerbating gambling harms and risk of experiencing gambling harms for many people. The fund will be open to all community-based organisations who are not currently funded by GambleAware. The second, is the Aftercare Funding Programme. GambleAware is inviting applications from organisations supporting people in recovery from gambling harm, focussing on the longer-term recovery and rebuild which might be needed for people to live happy and healthy lives. To find out more and apply for both funds, follow the links here: The Community Resilience Fund - Aftercare Funding Programme.
2023 GSK IMPACT Awards – core funding and training for health charities
The GSK IMPACT Awards provide core funding and free training for charities doing excellent work to improve people’s health and wellbeing. Organisations must be at least three years old, working in a health-related field in the UK, with income between £120,000 and £3 million. Up to 15 awards will be made, ranging from £4,000 to £50,000, plus free training and development valued at a further £9,500. Organisations will also have a film made and receive help with press and publicity. The GSK IMPACT Awards are funded by GSK and managed in partnership with The King’s Fund. They are judged by a prestigious panel of judges and provide national recognition for the winning organisations. To apply and find out more go to: www.kingsfund.org.uk/gskimpactawards
About Clinks Health and Justice bulletin
This regular bulletin provides Clinks members with the latest news for voluntary organisations involved in the health and care of people in the criminal justice system. To submit content, or have comments or ideas about how this ebulletin could be improved, please email spencer.bundschuh@clinks.org
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