For better and smarter public services
Find coverage in the press of Reform's latest work below.
We are always happy to comment on policy issues relevant to our work. If you would like a quote, an interview, or a background briefing, please email press@reform.uk or ring 020 7799 6699 for the quickest response.
On Wednesday 29 April, Reform published 'Working through it' calling for 'short-time' working to be introduced as the COVID-19 lock down is phased out.
The paper was covered by: The Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Mirror, Daily Mail Online, Personnel Today, This is Money and the Morning Advertiser.
The findings also featured in the Today Programme's morning coverage. Aidan was interviewed by TalkRADIO and William Mills, co-author and Reform Communications Manager, was interviewed by BBC Humberside.
Commenting on Government plans to temporarily release low-risk prisoners to fight the spread of COVID-19, Aidan Shilson-Thomas, Reform Criminal Justice lead, said:
“The Government is absolutely right to take these steps to reduce the prison population and help mitigate the impact of COVID-19. Given the rate of spread, these measures should be actioned as quickly as possible, while maintaining public safety.
“But the Government must also reduce the flow of people entering prison in the first place. We therefore urge the Lord Chancellor to go further.
“Reform has shown that over 80 per cent of short sentences are not for non-violent offences, and community punishments are on average more effective. The Government should ban the use of these sentences immediately to further aid efforts to house a single prisoner per cell.”
Aidan Shilson-Thomas, Reform Researcher, appeared on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire to discuss our Reform Perspectives on 'Reducing the prison population: Extending Home Detention Curfew and scrapping short sentences'.
Listen from 17.40 here.
Aidan Shilson-Thomas, Reform Researcher, appeared on Sky News to discuss our Reform Perspectives on 'Reducing the prison population: Extending Home Detention Curfew and scrapping short sentences'.
Reform Researcher, Aidan Shilson-Thomas, outlined how and why the Government should release low-risk offenders to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Read the piece here.
On Friday 20 March, we launched our Reform Perspectives on 'Reducing the prison population: Extending Home Detention Curfew and scrapping short sentences'.
It was covered in The Independent.
Responding to the Budget, Reform think tank Director, Charlotte Pickles, said:
“The Chancellor’s fiscal stimulus in response to the potential economic shock of coronavirus is sensible. But beyond those exceptional measures, this is a high spend, low revenue-raising Budget.
“Aside from the welcome reduction to entrepreneurs’ relief, the Chancellor abandoned the more courageous ideas – such as extending council tax and cutting high rate pension relief – floated pre-Budget. The start of a new Parliament is the time to take unpopular decisions, and the Chancellor may regret not taking this opportunity to shore up the public finances.”
Aidan Shilson-Thomas, Reform Researcher, was featured in The Independent commenting on the spread of coronavirus in UK prisons.
Read here.
Commenting on reports suggesting the Chancellor is due to unveil £70m in new funds to ‘toughen up’ criminal probation, Aidan Shilson-Thomas, Reform Criminal Justice Lead, said:
“This is a welcome investment, and extending the use of electronic monitoring, including using alcohol tags, is good news.
“However, despite sounding tough, hiking up the maximum hours of unpaid work, which is already 300 hours, isn’t likely to have a serious deterrent effect.
“Lessening probation officers’ caseloads and investing in the resettlement of prisoners, so they are not released into homelessness and are supported into employment, are much more pressing challenges for the Chancellor to consider if the Government wants to cut reoffending.”