Nacro news

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…