Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Seventh Report - The role of adult custodial remand in the criminal justice system
Justice Committee
HC 264
Published 17 January 2023
Recommendations
20
Accepted
Para 116
Increase judges' and magistrates' awareness and confidence in effective alternatives to custodial remand.
Recommendation
Custodial remand should only be used for those who are not suitable for alternatives, such as conditional bail or electronic monitoring. Greater engagement is needed between the Ministry of Justice and the Judiciary on the alternatives currently available to custodial …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation and detailed specific actions taken, including court outreach, awareness briefings to over 2,000 people, and the production of a video, committing to continue expanding engagement with the judiciary on electronic monitoring.
Ministry of Justice
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Conclusions (3)
2
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 18
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 …
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.
6
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 43
Magistrates are responsible for hearing the majority of cases that lead to remanding to custody, and we heard that, particularly during the pandemic, the focus of training was on new ways of working and the use of technology. The application of the remand principles and the latest available alternatives to …
Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation, outlining plans to improve pre-sentence report quality and delivery through a unified Probation Service, £155m additional funding, recruiting 1,500 trainee Probation Officers, and working with the judiciary on procedural and technological reforms to reduce delays.
16
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 93
We are concerned by the high number of women placed on remand despite the often low risk that they pose to the public and the fact that many will not go on to receive a custodial sentence. The Ministry of Justice has acknowledged this is a problem, but more action …
Government Response Summary
The government detailed existing support for accommodation and homelessness and committed to extending Community Resettlement Service contracts for accommodation and Women’s Services to include unsentenced people in prison, noting that two regional contract extensions have already commenced.