Community sentences being written off as 'there is no unpaid work to do'
People convicted of crimes and given community sentences are having those sentences written off as the Probation Service has “no unpaid work for them to do”, according to a former police officer. Lord Paddick, who is now a non-executive adviser for the Metropolitan Police, said a magistrate told him he had “no confidence” in the use of non-custodial sentences.
He questioned whether the Probation Service had the capacity to carry out the work required of it amid discussions about potentially scrapping short-term prison sentences in favour of more offenders carrying out their sentences in the community.
The unaffiliated peer told the House of Lords: “A magistrate recently told me that he is resorting to short-term custodial sentences, because he has no confidence in non-custodial alternatives.
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“For example, people are being sentenced to unpaid work, but the Probation Service is saying there is no unpaid work for that person to do and therefore the sentence is written off.”
Lord Paddick asked: “Does the Probation Service really have the capacity to do what it’s being asked to do?”
His comments came after the Government announced a sentencing review last month, which will be headed by former Tory justice secretary David Gauke and will look at long-term solutions to prison overcrowding.
The sentencing review is expected to consider scrapping short-term custodial sentences in favour of community sentences.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is known to want to toughen community sentences with strict conditions and the use of technology such as sobriety tags monitoring alcohol use.
Home Office minister Lord Hanson said: “The Probation Service is asked to do an awful lot, and its first and foremost duty is to protect the public and protect public safety and to ensure rehabilitation of people through those community sentences or through those release mechanisms.
“There is a sentencing review, which has been commissioned by the Lord Chancellor. That sentencing review is looking at long-term sentences, but also looking at the ability to look at short-term sentences and their effectiveness and to look at the strengthening of community sentences.
“What I would say on community sentences is: it’s extremely important that they are strong, that they are implemented, and that people have to see them and attend them.
“And that is one thing that I hope will be further down the line in our policy development, to ensure that the sentencing review delivers for victims, reduces reoffending and helps rehabilitation for those individuals who have been convicted.”