Nacro news

Nacro’s Paul McDowell and Jon Collins from The Police Foundation wrote a joint letter to the Times expressing their disappointment about the case of Bob Ashford, who committed a minor crime at 13 and now may not stand as a Police and Crime Commissioner candidate. Sir, We are disappointed about the case of Bob Ashford,…

A new report on offender management published by Liz Calderbank, HM Chief Inspector of Probation, and Nick Hardwick, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons has said that “Work needed to address and change offenders’ attitudes and behaviour is not happening to any meaningful extent in many prisons.” Responding to this report, Paul McDowell, said: “It comes…

Writing for the Guardian’s Comment is free section, Nacro’s chief executive Paul McDowell responded to a new report published by the think tank Civitas claiming that increasing the length of prison sentences for burglary and fraud reduces offending. In it he argues that the report fails to offer a considered way forward to reduce crime…

Responding to today’s announcement by Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke MP on victims and witnesses of crime, Paul McDowell, chief executive of Nacro has said: “It is worrying that the government will now refuse to pay compensation to any victim of crime on the basis that they have an unspent conviction which resulted in either a…

Nacro has responded to the government’s consultation on proposed changes to community sentences. Speaking about the consultation, Graham Beech, strategic development director at Nacro, said: ‘We know that community sentences are more effective at reducing crime than a short stay in prison. But we now have an opportunity to make community sentences even more effective…

Nacro has published its response to the government’s consultation on the future of probation services. Nacro has expressed concern with the undue emphasis on the relationship between public, private sector and charity providers, and called for a renewed focus on what works to reduce reoffending. Speaking about the consultation, Paul McDowell, Nacro’s chief executive, said:…

The Offender Health Collaborative, a consortium led by Nacro and comprising Revolving Doors Agency; Centre for Mental Health; Mental Health Network, NHS Confederation; Cass Centre for Charity Effectiveness at the Cass Business School; and the Centre for Health and Justice, Institute for Mental Health at the University of Nottingham has been selected to support the…

Scottish youth project Voice Against Violence was presented with a Philip Lawrence Award at a special event, organised by crime reduction charity, Nacro, in Edinburgh this week. They were joined by Sandra White MSP and Dr Alasdair Allan MSP, Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s Languages, who presented them with their award. Founded in November…

Nacro, the crime reduction charity, comments on the government’s launch to extend the Work Programme to offenders leaving prison. Nacro’s Strategic Development Director, Graham Beech, said: ‘Nacro welcomes any measures which help offenders get on the employment ladder. Getting a job dramatically reduces the risk of offending – by between a third and a half….

Local youth project Mentality was presented with a Philip Lawrence Award at a special event, organised by crime reduction charity, Nacro, at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery last night. They were joined by Mrs Frances Lawrence MBE and the Lord Mayor of Bristol, Cllr Geoffrey Gollop, who presented Mentality with their award. Launched in December…

Local youth project Just Ask Nottingham was presented with a Philip Lawrence Award at a special event, organised by crime reduction charity, Nacro, at The Council House in Nottingham last night. They were joined by Mrs Frances Lawrence MBE and the Lord Mayor of Nottingham, Cllr Michael Wildgust. Launched in May 2010, Just Ask Nottingham…

Local youth project Vale Youth Speak Up was presented with a Philip Lawrence Award at a special event, organised by crime reduction charity, Nacro, at Barry Memorial Hall last night. They were joined by Mrs Frances Lawrence MBE, Jane Hutt AM, Minister for Equalities, and Keith Towler, Wales Children’s Commissioner who presented them with the…

Nacro has published its response to the Riots, Communities and Victims Panel’s interim report. Speaking at a Nacro youth inclusion project in Manchester, Paul McDowell, Nacro’s chief executive, said: ‘The Riots Panel has raised a number of important issues which need to be addressed in order to ensure that we don’t see a repeat of…

Local youth project Young Citizens was presented with a Philip Lawrence Award at a special event, organised by crime reduction charity, Nacro, at Lewisham Town Hall last night. They were joined by Mrs Frances Lawrence MBE and the Hon Tim Loughton MP, Department for Education, who presented them with the award. The Mayor and Young…

Paul McDowell, chief executive of Nacro, the crime reduction charity, has welcomed the government’s proposed reform of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, but called for the government to make further changes and go beyond its proposals: ‘These long overdue reforms will significantly help those people who have offended in the past and are now living…

Paul McDowell, chief executive of the crime reduction charity Nacro has today called on Rt Hon Ken Clarke MP, the justice secretary, to reconsider further restrictions to the criminal injuries compensation scheme. Speaking ahead of the government’s announcement, Paul McDowell said: ‘It is right that a degree of common sense is attached to levels of…

Lord Henley announced the winners of the 2011 Philip Lawrence Awards at an event at the House of Commons yesterday. The event celebrated the positive contribution young people are making in their communities, and discussed how this can help steer more young people away from crime. The special occasion included a showcase of young people’s…

Nacro has welcomed the publication of new guidelines for drug offences by the Sentencing Council for England and Wales. Paul McDowell, Nacro’s chief executive, who participated in the consultation on the new guidelines, said: ‘These guidelines give courts clear, consistent and comprehensive guidelines for sentencing those convicted of drug offences. These should be beneficial for…

Nacro, the crime reduction charity, has welcomed today’s announcement by David Cameron of funding for new Troubled Families Teams, and called for the government to engage with the voluntary sector in delivering the new services. Responding to the announcement, Paul McDowell, Nacro’s chief executive, said that the voluntary sector is already playing an important role…

Past winners of the Philip Lawrence Awards joined the 2011 judging panel at the Home Office this week. Frances Lawrence joined them for the event organised by Nacro on 6 December. Rt Hon Theresa May, Home Secretary, joined the judging panel made up of experts in the field and chaired by Sir Trevor McDonald, OBE,…

Nacro, the crime reduction charity, has welcomed the interim report on the summer’s riots, published today by the Riots Communities and Victims Panel, but warned that those convicted of involvement may not be receiving the support, guidance or incentive to stop offending. Speaking today, Graham Beech, director at Nacro, said: ‘Today’s interim report highlights the…

Nacro has welcomed the government’s announcement that it will table an amendment to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill (LASPO) to reform the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. Responding to the announcement, Lord Dholakia, president of Nacro said: “I am delighted that the government has committed itself towards making a positive step and…

Nacro, the crime reduction charity, has called on the coalition government to support the Rehabilitation of Offenders (Amendment) Bill and assist its passage through Parliament. Tabled by Lord Dholakia, president of Nacro, the Bill reaches the report stage in the Lords on 2 November. Lord Dholakia has been a resolute campaigner to change the Rehabilitation…

Responding to the government’s new anti-gangs strategy, Paul McDowell, chief executive of Nacro, said: ‘We welcome the government’s joined-up approach to tackling the problem of gang violence on our streets. The Home Office is right to prioritise early intervention work with young people who are at risk of committing gang-related crimes. ‘At Nacro we work…

Young people and adults dealing with homelessness, alcohol and drugs, mental health and employment issues in Greater Manchester have created a spectacular multi-horticultural and multicultural garden for this year’s RHS Flower Show Tatton Park. More than 30 people using Nacro’s services researched, designed, built and planted the garden for crime reduction charity Nacro’s entry to…

Paul McDowell, crime reduction charity Nacro’s chief executive said:“Nacro welcomes the Government’s criminal justice sentencing reforms. These proposals provide a once in a generation opportunity to change the criminal justice system: focusing on reducing reoffending, reducing crime and protecting victims. “Today’s announcements are without doubt a step in the right direction. We look forward to…

The Home Office has chosen Nacro, the crime reduction charity, to run the Philip Lawrence Awards. Now in its fourteenth year, the awards celebrate the positive difference young people make in their communities all over the UK. Targeting groups of young people aged between 11 and 20, the focus of the awards is on reducing…

Today the Government announced changes in its freedom bill which give ex-offenders a fairer chance of finding work, marking another victory for our Change the Record Campaign. The proposals means that another barrier preventing ex-offenders finding work will be removed when the bill is passed. The Protection of Freedoms Bill provides protection for children and…