Nacro has called on the government to ensure that its new social justice strategy invests effectively in frontline services.

Speaking after the launch of the strategy by Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP, Paul McDowell, chief executive of Nacro said:

‘The government is right to talk about addressing the root causes of offending, the need to join up services, and the importance of supporting individuals. Only by doing these things can we change lives and communities across the UK.

‘I’m also pleased that the strategy mentions the need to ensure that appropriate mental health services are available for young people. This is often an under-reported issue for young people in trouble and one which deserves much more attention.

‘However, we wait to see whether this strategy will have a real impact on the way that services are delivered. For me, today’s announcement brings together existing policies and demonstrates a desire to move towards a more coordinated approach. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that it will happen in practice or result in more effective interventions.

‘For the strategy to succeed, the government needs to make sure there is clear and tangible investment in the services which work directly with those affected by crime, violence, drug and alcohol problems, and mental health issues. The next step for the government should be to identify areas of best practice and target funding towards those programmes which can demonstrate success.’