£70m to ‘toughen up’ on probation sounds good, but misses the mark, says think tank
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.”