Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 2
2
Accepted
Paragraph: 18
Lack of community provision for underlying vulnerabilities contributes to non-violent remands
Conclusion
The large number of people being remanded for non-violent offences suggests that many are being remanded due to repeat offending. This repeat non-violent offending is often symptomatic of underlying vulnerabilities, such as drug abuse, homelessness and mental ill-health, for which there is currently a lack of community provision. We believe that there should be more co-ordinated investment across departments including the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Education in community services to divert people from this repeated criminal activity before they reach the stage where the criminal justice system sees no option but to remand them into custody.
Government Response Summary
The government partially accepted the recommendation, stating they are already working with the judiciary to consider the operation of the Bail Act 1976 and do not believe a further additional review of the Act is necessary. They did not commit to new co-ordinated investment in community services.
Paragraph Reference:
18
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
We partially accept this recommendation. As part of the Government’s ongoing work to effectively manage the prison remand population, we are already working with the judiciary in considering the operation of the Bail Act 1976 and how it is applied in practice. We also note that the Committee did not identify any significant problems with the remand legal framework in the Bail Act 1976. The Government therefore does not consider it necessary for there to be a further additional review of the application of the Bail Act at this time.