APCC Chair joins criminal justice roundtable at Downing Street
APCC Chair, Sussex PCC Katy Bourne OBE, joins Prime Minister’s roundtable at 10 Downing Street to discuss the criminal justice system.
Mrs Bourne said: “I was delighted to join senior colleagues from across the police and criminal justice sectors at the Prime Minister’s roundtable in Downing Street today.
“I welcome the renewed focus on improving the criminal justice system (CJS) so that it works together more effectively as a whole system, ultimately making services for victims, witnesses and local communities much better.
“Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) have long advocated transformation of the CJS at both a local and national level – we are determined more than ever to work with Government to make this happen.
“As well as ensuring we keep the public safe through effective punishment of offenders and better equipped prisons, we need to prevent crime from happening in the first place by reducing re-offending and making sure that offenders are given access to the training and education they need to close the revolving door of crime.
“PCCs have a key role to play in making this happen. They already chair their local Criminal Justice Boards bringing all agencies and partners together (including prisons, courts, police, probation etc) to ensure a co-ordinated, focused approach to tackling crime and reducing reoffending in their areas.
“The Prime Minister talked about making best use of technology and the importance of sharing better information across the CJS and tomorrow (13 Aug) I will be meeting the Policing Minister to show how quicker justice outcomes and huge savings in police officer time can be achieved through video evidence, as I have successfully demonstrated with our Video Enabled Justice Programme across five police force areas - Sussex, Kent, Norfolk, Suffolk and Surrey.
“I am very encouraged at the energy and determination to improve public confidence by cutting crime and making justice swifter and I look forward to working with my PCC colleagues to present ideas and solutions to achieve this.”