Probation Service
By Alistair Stevens
I think the probation service is enormously important if we are to ensure people are helped back into society and the public are to be reassured that the resources are in place to police the system effectively and I share your concern over the current plans to cut front line service. I am aware that in some parts of Derbyshire there are plans in place to cut teams very severely.
At the Liberal Democrats Spring Conference in 2009 we passed a motion on "Prisons and Criminal Justice Policy" which included the following statements:-
"The party is also calling for a greater emphasis on rehabilitation, arguing that all prisoners must have access to education and training to provide them with the hope of finding work and decrease the likelihood of them re offending."
"Responsibility for minor offenders would be dealt with by Community Justice Panels, promoting restorative justice, so that offenders fully recognise the impact their actions had upon its victims and the community."