Vera Baird DBE KC

Chair Criminal Cases Review Commission. Member Women’s Justice Bd.
Ex Victims’ Commissioner, Solicitor Gen & PCC. Fellow St Hilda’s Oxford. Writer. Labour Party

Tag: Community Remedy

  • PRESS RELEASE: Commissioner demands Government takes urgent action.

    Commissioner demands Government takes urgent action

    New Government powers to tackle anti-social behaviour must be supported with extra funding, Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Vera Baird has said.

    The Government has introduced five new powers which have come in to effect today, which the Government believe will enable the police, local authorities and others to respond quickly and effectively to anti-social behaviour (ASB) as part of the Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB), Crime and Policing Act 2014.

    Northumbria Police has worked closely with partners to ensure the smooth implementation of the powers and the Commissioner’s office has consulted on the community remedy list with the public in Northumbria who clearly favour the following two options:

    Educational or rehabilitative activities                                           20% of respondents

    Unpaid work within the community                                                  21% of respondents

    For these options to be effective, they need funding. The Government cannot rely on the police and Local Authorities to pick up this cost.

    Since 2010, the Northumbria Police budget has been cut by nearly £70m and local authorities have faced similar pressures. Local authority ASB leads have said they are concerned about the cost implications brought by Community Remedy with no additional funding provided for the options to provide structured activities or activities which put something back into the community.

    The Commissioner Vera Baird said: \”Like everything this Government does, changes are rushed through and no extra funding provided to ensure the transition is successful.

    \”Most of the remedies need resources to ensure their success and the Government should be funding this initiative as it’s important local residents and police officers have confidence in the system they’re working with.\”

    The Commissioner has called on the Justice Secretary to convene an urgent meeting with colleagues in Parliament to secure the extra funding needed to pay for this initiative.

    \”Northumbria Police continue to tackle ASB head-on – but if the Government wants this new scheme to work, they need to fund it,\” Mrs Baird added.

  • New ASB powers need funding from Government.

    Correspondence sent by Commissioner Baird to Chris Grayling MP in relation to the new Anti-Social Behaviour Powers

    20th October 2014

     

    Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP

    Secretary of State

    Ministry of Justice

    102 Petty France

    London

    SW1H 9AJ

    20th October 2014

     

    Dear Secretary of State,

    Anti-Social Behaviour Powers

    As today sees the launch of the Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, I am taking this opportunity to raise concerns that I have in relation to this matter.

    The Government has introduced five new powers which have come in to effect today, which the Government believe will enable the police, local authorities and others to respond quickly and effectively to ASB.

    Northumbria Police has worked closely with partners to ensure the smooth implementation of the powers and my office has consulted on the community remedy list with the public in Northumbria clearly favouring the following two options:

    Educational or rehabilitative activities                                            20%

    Unpaid work within the community                                                   21%

    Local authorities across Northumbria welcome any initiative to tackle anti-social behaviour, but they do have concerns about how the public’s two most popular remedies will be delivered as no extra funding has been made available from Government.

    The Government must take ownership of this problem as the public are being invited to take part in this programme, but funding is not available to support these initiatives.

    The Police and local government budgets are stretched to capacity, as you will be aware central Government has taken nearly £70 million from the Northumbria Police budget alone and there is literally no extra funding available.

    If the government want this programme to be a success, you must ensure that there is funding to support the work of local authorities and the police.

    I call upon you to hold urgent meetings with your colleagues to resolve this matter and we can then move forward and deliver a programme that all partners are able to do with confidence and which results in public satisfaction and a reduction in ASB.

    I look forward to hearing from you soon.

    Best wishes.

    Vera Baird QC

    Police & Crime Commissioner – Northumbria.