Justice secretary in pledge to overhaul CJS

26 November 2024

A pledge by the justice secretary to overhaul the justice system so things can be done ‘fundamentally differently’ have been cautiously welcomed by West Midlands Police Federation chair Rich Cooke.

Rich was responding to an interview with The Times at the end of last month in which Shabana Mahmood, the Labour MP for Birmingham’s Ladywood constituency, said that crisis resolution within the criminal justice system (CJS) was not enough.

“I’m determined that this narrow path to a different system in which we can all have confidence is the one I have to tread. What I want to deliver at the end of it is justice system that lives up to the ideal of justice. I’m going to have to go big. There’s no other option and I’m determined to make a success of it,” she said in The Times article published in its Saturday magazine.

Rich said the early release scheme launched by the Government to help ease prison overcrowding was one sure sign that drastic action was needed. The scheme saw some prisoners released after serving 40 per cent of their sentence.

Shabana Mahmood, the Labour MP for Birmingham’s Ladywood constituency.

“It has been very depressing and frustrating to see these inmates being greeted with champagne as they walked out of the prison gates having served less than half of their sentence. Officers will have worked hard to bring these cases to court and eventually put these criminals behind bars so it will have an impact on them, but it also has a massive effect on the victims of crime who will not feel that justice has been served,” he explained.

“It is demoralising for all concerned – with the exception of the offenders with many probably feeling they have got off lightly, given the fact that their sentences have been reduced by so much.

Criminal justice

“This is just one element of the criminal justice system that is currently failing, but we are fully aware that there are other areas that also need looking at as a matter of urgency. We have already written to the justice secretary to seek a meeting as we have our own ideas as to where change is needed in the criminal justice system.

“Take for example, the sentencing of offenders who attacked police officers during the violent scenes that erupted in cities over the summer months. The Government was very firm that these people should feel the full weight of the law, which we would agree with. However, it should be the case that anyone who attacks a police officer or another emergency service worker should receive tough sentencing at any time.

“If we are to restore faith and confidence in the criminal justice service, we need to see the law applied consistently, we need to see those who deserve to be in prison serving the actual sentence that is handed down, otherwise it is fundamentally dishonest, and we need to have enough places in prisons to enable this to happen and that means investment in new prisons. Prison capacity has flat-lined for years yet we have seen a significant population increase, as well as more offenders being bought to justice for serious sexual and violence crimes for which prison is the only option to protect the public. And the first priority must be protecting the law-abiding public.”

Offenders

While the justice secretary has not yet confirmed a date when she can meet with West Midlands Police Federation officials, she has agreed to do so.

“We are hoping this meeting can be held as soon as possible so that we can sit around the table and share our ideas with Ms Mahmood,” says Rich, “Police officers play a pivotal role in the criminal justice system and, as the organisation representing rank and file officers, the Federation is ideally placed to offer an accurate picture of where the criminal justice system is failing and discuss ways of improving the service we provide to the communities we serve.”

In The Times article, the justice minister acknowledges that 80 per cent of offenders are reoffenders and Rich said this ‘revolving door’ of people going in and out of prison needed to be tackled.

He also welcomed the fact that she has vowed to call on the Treasury to get more money for the courts to help deal with the backlog of cases, while accepting that it was the whole CJS that needs reform.