Nacro comments

In response to Ministry of Justice’s Sentencing White Paper, Nacro Chief Executive Campbell Robb said: “Some welcome announcements today on criminal records and a focus on education and substance misuse but these are outweighed by the pressure that longer sentences will put on an already stretched system and the need for fundamental reform. “With a…

Our students who attend our Education and Skills Centres have achieved incredible results despite personal barriers and the challenges of learning during a pandemic.. we are so proud of their hard work and determination. Those who have to re-sit their GCSE exams in English and maths receive excellent tailored support from our experienced and skilled…

Nacro was a key contributor to the Justice Committee’s session on: Coronavirus (COVID-19): The impact on prisons. The Committee has released a report on this session and will now launch an inquiry into ongoing reforms. Read the report here. Prison Regime Changes We agree that continuing to lock people in their cells for 23 hours a day is…

Nacro was a key contributor to the Justice Committee’s session on: Coronavirus (COVID-19): The impact on probation systems. The Committee has released a report on this session and will now launch an inquiry into ongoing reforms in the service. Nacro’s External Engagement Director, Helen Berresford who attended the session, comments: “We are pleased to see the Committee recognise that…

In response to HMI Probation Accommodation Thematic Inspection report which found that a lack of housing is jeopardising public protection and rehabilitation of offenders, Nacro Chief Executive Campbell Robb said: “This report hits the nail on the head. For far too long the scandal of people leaving prison homeless with little chance to turn their…

In response to today’s announcement, Campbell Robb, Nacro Chief Executive, commented: “We are delighted that the Government has recognised the value of a unified probation service after the fragmentation and failed reform of recent years. With this change must come a renewed commitment to the vital support charities of all sizes deliver, hand in hand…

Blog post about how Coronavirus has impacted on our justice teams

At yesterday’s first ever remote Justice Select Committee, Helen Berresford, Director of External Engagement, gave evidence on how people leaving prison should be supported during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and the need for longevity in planning beyond COVID-19. A panel of experts remotely attended the committee on the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on prison, probation…

At Nacro we believe that in these unprecedented times, it is more important than ever to support those caught up in the criminal justice system, both in prison and on release. While there has been much immediate focus on how to manage the prison estate, for those whose release date is coming up, reintegrating into…

In response to the HM Inspectorate of Prisons annual report regarding experiences of children in custody, Nacro Chief Executive, Campbell Robb, said: “As a society we cannot stand by any longer as report after report highlights the wholly unacceptable conditions that children in custody are facing. Not only are these conditions inhumane, they are ineffective…

Nacro becomes Society for Education and Training Corporate Partner The Society for Education and Training (SET) is welcoming staff at Nacro, a national social justice charity with more than 50 years’ experience of changing lives, building stronger communities and reducing crime, as SET members. Nacro has signed a Corporate Partnership with SET – the professional…

Campbell Robb, Chief Executive of Nacro, comments in response to the HM Inspectorate of Prisons report ‘Separation of children in young offender institutions’: The findings in this report are deeply disturbing. It is wholly unacceptable that children are unable to access the basics of everyday life, including a daily shower and telephone call, and simply…

Campbell Robb, Chief Executive of Nacro, comments in response to the Queen’s Speech: The announcement in today’s Queen’s Speech to send more people to prison and for longer must be backed up with a commitment and investment in rehabilitation and reducing reoffending. This means giving people the essentials they need as they leave prison to…

In response to the publication of the Ofsted inspection report for Medway Secure Training Centre (STC), Nacro Chief Executive, Campbell Robb, said: “We are incredibly proud of the role Nacro education staff have played in helping children at Medway STC progress in education and get on a pathway to success. As recognised in the inspection…

Campbell Robb, Chief Executive of Nacro, comments in response to Friday’s tragic events in London: Following the tragic events in London Bridge last Friday, our first thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones and all those affected. People’s search for answers will understandably continue for some…

In response to recent analysis of youth justice system figures, Nacro Chief Executive, Campbell Robb, said: “These shocking re-offending rates show how broken our youth justice system is. With over 40% of young people that are convicted or cautioned reoffending within one year, it is clear we need to change our approach and recognize there…

In response to the MoJ announcement regarding UK prisons set to receive innovative security investment, Nacro Chief Executive, Campbell Robb, said: “With record high levels of self harm and violence within our prisons, investment to improve security and tackle smuggling is essential, but it is not the only solution we need to truly tackle crime…

In response to the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Knife Crime, ‘Back to School?’ Nacro Chief Executive, Campbell Robb, said: “Young people at risk of school exclusion and offending often have a complex set of social, emotional, psychological and educational back-stories that require tackling head-on to prevent a downward spiral, and we know that 85% of…

In response to the Queen’s Speech today, Nacro CEO Campbell Robb commented: “We all share the aim of reducing crime and reducing the number of victims of crime. However, the sentencing proposals in today’s Queen’s speech do nothing to tackle this. “Over three quarters of all crimes that result in a caution or sentence are…

In response to the new Offender Accommodation Pilot announcement, Nacro Chief Executive Campbell Robb said: “The people we support upon release from prison so often face an impossible struggle to make a fresh start, held back by homelessness, a lack of health support, job opportunities or sufficient money to get food and basics to survive….

In response to HMI Prisons and Probation report on youth resettlement, stating that children leaving custody are being “set up to fail” through lack of support, Nacro Chief Executive, Campbell Robb, said, “It is simply unacceptable that little has changed since the last HMI Prisons and Probation report on youth resettlement published in 2015, which…

In response to Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) figures regarding the number of households in temporary residence, Nacro Chief Executive, Campbell Robb, said: “This shocking rise in homeless households must drive further Government action. With evidence that the National Probation Service, responsible for prison leavers, has made the most homeless referrals, we can no…

In response to MoJ figures regarding homelessness amongst people leaving prison, Nacro Chief Executive, Campbell Robb, said: “These shocking figures reveal the unacceptable scale of the challenge people leaving prison face to get their lives back on track. The people we support upon release from prison too often face an impossible struggle to turn away…

In response to £100 million government investment to tackle crime within prisons, Nacro Chief Executive, Campbell Robb, said: “With record high levels of self harm and violence – investment to improve security within our prisons is important but it is not the only solution we need to truly tackle reoffending. We also need urgent investment…

The article contains a case study of Nacro service user, Phillip, who began using our substance misuse project in 2017. He was formerly a prolific offender, who was homeless on several occasions after being released from custody: “If I had come out and gone into a proper place to stay, I could’ve started fresh and…

Nacro Chief Executive, Campbell Robb said: “We all share the same aim of reducing crime and reducing the number of victims of crime. But increasing prison places isn’t the answer. “Over three quarters of all crimes that result in a caution or sentence are repeat offences often committed by people that have already been to…

In response to the HMI Prison and Probation report, Nacro Chief Executive, Campbell Robb, said: “When young people go into prison they are swept into a current they can feel powerless to escape, and, all too often when they leave, they’re not being given the best chance to lead a different life. “We cannot afford…

In response to Department for Education pupil exclusions in England figures, Nacro Chief Executive, Campbell Robb, said: “Pupils at risk of being excluded from school are often facing vulnerabilities such as poor mental health, family breakdown and poverty. For the numbers of pupils being excluded to reach a decade high, leaves some of our most…

In response to the latest Ministry of Justice Safety in Custody figures, Nacro Chief Executive, Campbell Robb, said: “For many people, the experience of going into prison is traumatic and disruptive, and can come on top of an existing mental health condition. These unprecedented figures tell a story of a broken prison system. It simply is…

In response to the announcement of the National Partnership Agreement between MoJ, HMPPS and DWP* for employment and welfare support, Nacro Chief Executive, Campbell Robb, said: “At Nacro, we want to see people in contact with the justice system given the best possible chance to move forward. Planning for a fresh start upon release from…

Nacro Chief Executive, Campbell Robb, said: “It is not right for people that may have made a mistake during their youth to be penalised for forever. Nor for so many people who are desperate to move on and build a better life to find themselves shut out of the job market. We need to give…

Nacro Chief Executive, Campbell Robb, said: “Giving governors the freedom to increase time for inmates to take part in education and work programmes, as well as recreational activities, is a vital step in the right direction. To tackle stubborn reoffending rates once and for all, we need a relentless focus upon rehabilitation from the moment…

Nacro has responded to the HM Chief Inspector of Prisons annual report, which was published here yesterday. Campbell Robb, Chief Executive at Nacro, said: “Shockingly high levels of self harm, drug abuse and suicide highlighted in this report once again show that our current prison system isn’t working. In many cases, our prisons are not helping to…

Nacro has responded to the release of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs report, which was published here yesterday.  Helen Berresford, Director of External Engagement at Nacro, said: “In Nacro’s experience, being released on a Friday can make an already difficult day almost impossible and increases the possibility of people reoffending. The first…

We welcome efforts to increase the use of Release on Temporary Licence (RoTL), which plays an important role in improving resettlement for people coming out of prison. Having a job, somewhere to live and family and community connections are all known to reduce the risk of someone reoffending on release. Release on temporary licence is…

In response to reports of the importance of work opportunities to prison leavers, Helen Berresford, Director of External Engagement comments: At Nacro, we support over 30,000 vulnerable and disadvantaged people every year, many with complex needs, including those at different stages of contact with the criminal justice system. We have seen first-hand that having a…

In response to the Justice Committee prison population report, Nacro Chief Executive, Jacob Tas, said: “Today’s report from the Justice Select Committee rightly highlights that staffing shortages and other disruptions have severely undermined the delivery of rehabilitative services in prisons. We set out in our evidence the real impact this has on our staff’s ability…

In response to the publication of the HMI Probation report, Nacro Chief Executive, Jacob Tas, said: “As we anticipate government plans for probation reform, today’s report from the Chief Inspector of Probation, Dame Glenys Stacey, underlines the urgent need for a step change in the way that probation services are delivered across the country. “Thousands…

Today’s report from the National Audit Office reconfirms the huge challenges the Government’s Transforming Rehabilitation programme has had both on those involved in delivering probation services but also crucially those who are supported by probation. As the NAO report recommends, we urge the government to closely consider the responses to its consultation ahead of announcement…

In response to the news that ministers are considering banning short prison sentences in England and Wales: “We welcome the news that The Ministry of Justice is considering banning prison sentences of less than six months in England and Wales. Short sentences are proven to be less effective at reducing re-offending than community sentences. We see…

We welcome the government response to this very important and timely review of Alternative Provision by the Education Select Committee. As part of our response to this inquiry, we highlighted the experiences of the young people that come to our education and skills centres having had poor experiences in mainstream school, who are often the…

Today, we welcome the announcement from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government that funding for supported housing is to stay in the welfare system. For more than two years, Nacro has campaigned to protect funding for housing that provides support to some of the most vulnerable people in society. This includes those with…

In response to today’s government announcement that existing probation contracts will be cut short and further changes will be made to the system, Nacro Chief Executive Jacob Tas, said: “Through consistent evidence to the government and the Justice Select Committee, Nacro has repeatedly highlighted the need for change and we welcome the government’s recognition that…

Nacro welcomes the Education Select Committee’s report on alternative provision published today. We are pleased to see some of Nacro’s recommendations reflected in the report, particularly the importance of quality alternative provision and that funding for AP should continue post-16. Helen Berresford, Director of External Engagement, said: “We believe that all young people deserve high-quality…

We welcome the Secretary of State’s speech earlier today on his department’s further plans to make prisons places of meaningful rehabilitation – which we know leads to more effective resettlement, and ultimately a reduction in reoffending, allowing people to positively move forward with their lives. Consistent contact with family for prisoners is absolutely central to…

Nacro welcomes the Department for Education’s (DfE) amended disqualification arrangements, published on 2 July 2018. While we completely support the DfE’s intentions to ensure safeguarding arrangements in schools and childcare settings are as robust as possible, the previous rules were disproportionate, impractical and did nothing to adequately safeguard children. In our response to the consultation…

In response to the launch of the MoJ Female Offender Strategy, Nacro Chief Executive, Jacob Tas, said: With one in four women sentenced to 30 days in prison or less in 2016, and 57% women in prison being victims of domestic abuse, it is right that the government recognises that there must be a specific…

In response to the Justice Committee report on Transforming Rehabilitation, Nacro Chief Executive, Jacob Tas, said: “We welcome the Justice Committee report and the recognition that the government’s Transforming Rehabilitation programme cannot deliver its original ambition under the current format. “The report is right to highlight that the voluntary sector is less involved in probation…

Joint research from Nacro and youth homelessness charity, Centrepoint, call for improved support for young people leaving custody accessing housing.  Published today, research report ‘Have you got anybody you can stay with?’, highlights the multiple barriers young adults face in order to find safe and stable housing upon release from custody.  The report draws upon…

Nacro has long called for a fundamental review of the criminal records regime to make it clearer, fairer and more transparent. Criminal records present a significant barrier to many people trying to move on with their life – including finding employment and housing. There are 11 million people in the UK with a criminal record…