News, publications and events
NOMS weekly round up, Issue 5
17.3.08
This message consolidates all of the announcements that have been made this week, relevant to NOMS. The links will enable you to access further information about each announcement.
Probation service receives £40m to cut reoffending (new window)
The National Probation Service is to receive £40 million of additional funding to provide more rigorous and effective community sentences. The piloting of intensive alternatives to custody and the provision of more rigorous non-custodial regimes were recommended in the Carter Review published last year and accepted by the Ministry of Justice. This additional funding will mean that magistrates can be confident that resources are in place to enable them to use a community order for those offenders for whom a non-custodial sentence would be appropriate. Justice Minister David Hanson has made a written ministerial statement (new window) on investing in community sentences regarding the additional funding.
Prisons, probation and the press under examination (new window)
Jack Straw spoke at the Guardian Criminal Justice Summit on 10th March at the Law Society on prisons, probation and the press.
Latest move in the fight against drugs in prisons (new window)
Justice Minister David Hanson announced on 13th March that universal testing for the opiate substitute buprenorphine is to be introduced into all prisons in England and Wales from 1 April. A written ministerial statement (new window) on this has been made. A further written ministerial statement (new window) has been made on a review of Prison Service measures to disrupt the supply of drugs into prisons.
New appointment in the drive to reduce illegal drugs in prison (new window)
David Blakey CBE QPM has been commissioned to conduct a review of the effectiveness of measures to disrupt the supply of illicit drugs into prison. The review will make recommendations on how these measures can be improved, and identify any additional measures that could be employed. The report aims to ensure robust security measures while maintaining a humane environment for prisoners.
Average time from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders (new window)
Monthly National Statistics release presenting figures derived from the Police National Computer on the time taken to bring Persistent Young Offenders to justice. This release monitors the 1997 pledge to halve the arrest to sentence time for this offender group (from 142 to 71 days) in all Criminal Justice Areas.
Inspection into Leeds Magistrates' Court (new window)
Jack Straw has made a written ministerial statement on an inspection into resulting and warrant processes at Leeds Magistrates' Court.
Innovation & Partnering seminar: Why, too often, do good ideas fall into the gaps?
The aim of this event in London on 18th March is to explore the relationship between commissioning and innovation and, through a realistic understanding of the challenges of partnering, how the probability of successful innovation significantly can be increased. If you would like to attend, please email academy@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk.
Reducing Re-offending Beacon Award winners (new window)
At the Beacon Awards Ceremony in London on 4 March the winners of the Reducing Re-offending Beacon Theme were announced. The Beacon Scheme identifies authorities – and, increasingly, partnerships – that are delivering the best services to their local citizens and can teach others to do the same.
This message has been sent to a list of external bodies and individuals who have an interest or involvement in NOMS.
If you have queries about any of the above or anything else, or would like to be excluded from further communications of this kind or have someone added, please contact the NOMS Communication Team at noms@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk.
