-
· Probation
staff to be given powers to put in place licence conditions
that address specific issues that increase the risk of
crime.
-
· Part
of Government’s plans to strengthen supervision of offenders on
licence and improve rehabilitation.
Tougher restrictions to improve the supervision of offenders who
are on probation have today been announced by Justice Minister
.
For the first time ever, probation officers will be able to
impose tailored restrictions on an offender released from custody
on licence.
Conditions could include a ban on alcohol, gambling or access to
online content and failure to stick to them could lead to a
recall to custody.
Probation Minister said:
“We are committed to improving the supervision of those on
probation and challenging offenders to reform and lead law
abiding lives on release.
“We want to ensure that more intensive rehabilitation takes place
in the community and it is vital that probation staff have the
tools they need to work with offenders to help them integrate
safely back into society.
“These new measures will help to protect the public and tackle
the issues that lead offenders to commit crime."
Licence conditions, which are put in place when an offender is
released from custody as a way of preventing them from committing
further crime, are set jointly between prison governors and
probation staff.
Until now the range of conditions that can be imposed come from a
standard list that is set out in legislation.
Today's changes mean that prison and probation staff will also
have the power to target a specific issue that may increase the
risk of an offender committing crime.
Alcohol, for example, is a known factor in reoffending for some
offenders. Research shows an estimated 63 per cent of male
offenders and 39 per cent of female offenders in prisons admitted
to dangerous levels of drinking before being locked up.
It is estimated that alcohol-fuelled crime and public disorder
costs the taxpayer £7.3 billion a year.
Notes to Editors
-
· Additional
licence conditions will be applied on a case by case basis where
the standard conditions are not sufficient to ensure the
offender’s successful integration into the community, prevent
re-offending or to ensure the protection of the public.
- · They
will only be applied where they are deemed necessary and
proportionate.
- · When
preparing for the release of a determinate sentenced offender,
supervising officers will consider whether to recommend any
additional licence condition which falls within the descriptions
set out in The Criminal Justice (Sentencing) (Licence Conditions)
Order 2015.
- · A
statutory instrument to be laid in Parliament today (Thurs)
amends that Order to add a new category of licence condition,
concerning the restriction of specified conduct or specified
acts.
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· Standard
conditions of release including: living at a specified address; a
ban on travel abroad without permission from an offender manager;
or not making contact with a named person.
-
· Probation
staff are responsible for enforcing licence conditions and work
closely with the police and other agencies to monitor offenders.
- · If an
offender fails to comply with the licence condition, they risk
being recalled back to custody to serve the remainder of their
sentence.
-
· Evidence
of breaches of licence conditions may come from a variety of
sources. This can include offender managers asking questions
during a supervision meeting with an offender; an offender coming
to the attention of local police officers; or information from
the community which finds its way back to the offender manager.
- · Where
there is a breach, the offender manager will assess what the
breach means in relation the offender’s risk of harm/reoffending
and make a judgment on the appropriate enforcement action. That
might be a warning letter or, where the risk justifies it, recall
to custody.
