A new All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sport and Physical
Activity in the Criminal Justice System was launched on Monday
(March 8), with the Alliance of Sport as its Secretariat.
The new APPG will be the central, constructive, cross-party
voice in parliament that promotes sport-based interventions and
physical activity as effective tools for the diversion and
prevention of crime and the rehabilitation of people involved
with the Criminal Justice System.
Recognition of sport and physical activity’s positive role
within the Criminal Justice System is growing, but its inherent
power as a vehicle for preventing crime and reducing reoffending
remains widely misunderstood and largely underutilised.
The Alliance of Sport has worked hard to change this and
has established itself in a central role between sport, criminal
justice and other key sectors; fostering effective collaboration,
promoting good practice, launching research programmes and
working to advance policy and practice.
Newly-elected Chair of the new APPG, , said: “I have witnessed many examples of
interventions through sport that have turned people’s lives
around and diverted people away from spirals of crime and the
criminal justice system. Our group will help highlight this work
and encourage the government to give more recognition for the
positive contribution sport can make in the justice
system.”
Baroness , Co-Chair,
commented: “I am passionate about the role sport and physical
activity can play at all levels in the Criminal Justice System
and am very excited about the potential impact this group can
make together.
"I believe that in forming this APPG we have created a
platform that can make a real difference, especially to the lives
of children and young people. We can also give a voice to
organisations who work so tirelessly to increase positive
outcomes for those involved with, or on the fringes of, the
Criminal Justice System."
Alliance of Sport Chief Executive, James Mapstone, added:
“We are proud to support this new APPG. It gives us a unique
opportunity to raise the profile of sport and physical activity’s
role in the Criminal Justice System – and champion emerging
practice from across the Alliance of Sport network.”
The APPG's initial focus will be on how sport and physical
activity can recover previous levels of engagement both in the
custodial estate and with at-risk groups in the community
post-Covid, especially among hard-to-reach individuals who may
have lost contact with previous sources of support through
lockdown.
More information about the APPG will appear on the Alliance of Sport
website in the near future. You can also follow the group on
Twitter.
