Reducing reoffending across Thames Valley to cut crime
Matthew Barber, Police & Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, recently commissioned a £50,000 independent review of the criminal justice system in Thames Valley
Police & Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, Matthew Barber, has today (31 May) published the findings of an independent review of the work to reduce reoffending across Thames Valley.
The independent review, commissioned by the PCC, which took place over a number of months, included workshops, interviews and shadowing of services from prison, probation and in the community across 30 different organisations.
Results from the independent review, commissioned by the Police & Crime Commissioner, have now been adopted by the Thames Valley Local Criminal Justice Board (LCJB) along with the 21 recommendations it made.
Matthew said: “In line with my Police and Criminal Justice Plan, I commissioned this vital review to further understand our criminal justice system locally.
“The learning and recommendations from this review are already being implemented in the work of the Local Criminal Justice Board and our Ministry of Justice funded pilot project called ‘Restart Thames Valley’.
“Restart Thames Valley will be a yearlong pilot, running from June this year, working with more than 350 offenders leaving both Bullingdon and Bronzefield prisons. It will build on the experience of those currently being released from prison, those who have successfully resettled and frontline staff working hard to help people maintain successful outcomes such as stable accommodation and support networks.
“The findings from my independently commissioned review will feed back directly to decision makers across prison, probation and commissioned services so that they can act on and test improvements during the Restart Thames Valley pilot.
“I look forward to seeing the impact Restart Thames Valley will have to increase the chances for those leaving prison to lead a successful life with the right support.”
The full report can be downloaded to view here.