PCCs best-placed to oversee probation
Ahead of his appearance in front of the Justice Committee tomorrow, Association of Police and Crime Commissioners Chair and Criminal Justice lead, David Lloyd, is calling for PCCs to be given real oversight and accountability of local criminal justice services, including offender management services.
In making the case for more PCC involvement, the APCC Chair will set out why the current payment by results system for Community Rehabilitation Companies is not working and is too often driving perverse behaviour and stifling innovation.
APCC Chair, David Lloyd PCC said:
“It is my view that PCCs have a key role in working with partners to ensure an efficient and effective criminal justice system. That means real oversight and accountability of local criminal justice services, including offender management services, in the first instance, this should include joint oversight of Community Rehabilitation Companies and the National Probation Service with the Ministry of Justice.
“In my area of Hertfordshire, the CRC has essentially disengaged from most of the partnership meetings and that’s led to a lack of data sharing on key areas of criminal justice information.
“The APCC wants to see funding to be provided to PCCs without ring fence, so that the money can be invested in the part of the system which would have the greatest impact on reducing reoffending in their local area. This may mean, for example, more into Out of Court Disposals in some areas or more in Through the Gate services in others, depending on local need and wider service provision.
“Across the country we are seeing criminal justice agencies being pulled in different directions. The democratic mandate of a PCC means that they can hold the criminal justice system to account for the public and provide transparency at a local level.”
You can read the APCC’s written evidence to the Justice Committee here.