Bishop Rachel responds to the Times Crime and Justice Commission Report

The Anglican Bishop for HM Prisons, the Rt Revd Rachel Treweek has released a statement on the Times Crime and Justice Commission report:

“I welcome the publication of the Times Crime and Justice Commission report into the state of the criminal justice system. I wholeheartedly agree with its finding that the criminal justice system should be seen as an interconnected whole and the report has pinpointed many aspects of the current system that do not work well together.

“This report is a stark reminder that ultimately we are failing victims, communities and the public purse by not addressing shortcomings in the courts and ignoring the evidence about what works to rehabilitate people. As Anglican Bishop for Prisons, I long for a criminal justice system that is restorative, relational and responsible: we must find effective ways of preventing people entering cycles of criminality and reoffending, as well as strengthening and protecting communities.

“This can only be done by a system which inspires confidence and is rooted in a consistent ethos and strategy at every level, connecting the work done by the police, courts, probation, parole, prison and civil society organisations. My hope and prayer is that the Government will look carefully at the Commission’s recommendations and this will lead to sustained and courageous reform of our criminal justice system.”

About the Times Crime and Justice Commission Report

‘The status quo is really not an option.’ New polling data shows over half of the public (53 per cent) back the Commission’s recommendation for a universal digital ID system, and two-thirds (66 per cent of people) back restrictions on social media for under-16s.

The year-long project has taken evidence from over 500 witnesses and published a ten point plan to modernise our country’s criminal justice system. Read the full report here ~ Bishop Rachel is quoted on page 52.

The Commission also recommends that the Government introduces a new intermediate court to speed up justice and reduce court delays, alongside “common sense” reforms to sentencing and a renewed focus on neighbourhood policing, driven by data to target persistent offenders.