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Law and order: Extra £85m for CPS to tackle violent crime Law and order: Extra £85m for CPS to tackle violent crime
(32 minutes later)
The Crown Prosecution Service will receive an extra £85m over the next two years, to help deal with a rise in violent crime in England and Wales.The Crown Prosecution Service will receive an extra £85m over the next two years, to help deal with a rise in violent crime in England and Wales.
It comes as Boris Johnson launches a review of sentencing of some dangerous and prolific offenders.It comes as Boris Johnson launches a review of sentencing of some dangerous and prolific offenders.
He said dangerous criminals must be taken off the streets and punishments "fit the crime" if the public was to have confidence in the justice system.He said dangerous criminals must be taken off the streets and punishments "fit the crime" if the public was to have confidence in the justice system.
Lawyers said the new money did not make up for 10 years of "relentless cuts".
The news fuels speculation ministers are preparing for an early election.The news fuels speculation ministers are preparing for an early election.
On Sunday the prime minister promised to create an extra 10,000 new prison places and expand stop-and-search powers.On Sunday the prime minister promised to create an extra 10,000 new prison places and expand stop-and-search powers.
And on Monday Mr Johnson will host a round-table meeting in Downing Street with leaders from the police, probation and prison sectors.And on Monday Mr Johnson will host a round-table meeting in Downing Street with leaders from the police, probation and prison sectors.
Ahead of the meeting Mr Johnson said: "We have all seen examples of rapists and murderers let out too soon or people offending again as soon as they're released.Ahead of the meeting Mr Johnson said: "We have all seen examples of rapists and murderers let out too soon or people offending again as soon as they're released.
"This ends now. We want them caught, locked up, punished and properly rehabilitated.""This ends now. We want them caught, locked up, punished and properly rehabilitated."
The review, which will begin immediately, will look at whether violent and sexual offenders are serving sentences that reflect the severity of their crimes.The review, which will begin immediately, will look at whether violent and sexual offenders are serving sentences that reflect the severity of their crimes.
It will report back in the autumn.It will report back in the autumn.
'Protect the public''Protect the public'
Under the current system, criminals sentenced to 12 months or more generally serve the first half of their time in prison and the second half "on licence" in the community, where they may be subject to recall.Under the current system, criminals sentenced to 12 months or more generally serve the first half of their time in prison and the second half "on licence" in the community, where they may be subject to recall.
Dangerous offenders can be given extended sentences, which mean they must serve two-thirds before being eligible for parole.Dangerous offenders can be given extended sentences, which mean they must serve two-thirds before being eligible for parole.
Justice secretary Robert Buckland said the review will focus on those violent, sexual and prolific offenders who are not currently given these extended sentences.Justice secretary Robert Buckland said the review will focus on those violent, sexual and prolific offenders who are not currently given these extended sentences.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Mr Johnson "wants to see prison being used appropriately to protect the public".He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Mr Johnson "wants to see prison being used appropriately to protect the public".
But sentencing decisions should still be based on individual circumstances not "targets or numbers", Mr Buckland said.But sentencing decisions should still be based on individual circumstances not "targets or numbers", Mr Buckland said.
Opposition parties warned there was no easy fix for the current rise in violent crime.
Liberal Democrat justice spokeswoman Wera Hobhouse said increasing prison sentences would merely "overcrowd prisons and waste millions of pounds".
She said: "For years, Labour and Tory ministers have made sentences longer and longer, without any evidence that they prevent crime.
"It may sound tough, but it hasn't made our communities any safer."
The incentive of early release is seen by many as critical for keeping order in prisons.The incentive of early release is seen by many as critical for keeping order in prisons.
Sir David Latham, a former judge and chairman of the Parole Board for England and Wales, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Prisons are significantly overcrowded and the risks of violence in prisons have increased very substantially over the last few years."Sir David Latham, a former judge and chairman of the Parole Board for England and Wales, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Prisons are significantly overcrowded and the risks of violence in prisons have increased very substantially over the last few years."
Last year saw record levels of assaults on prison staff as well as a rise in self-harm by inmates.Last year saw record levels of assaults on prison staff as well as a rise in self-harm by inmates.
Sir David said the way to ensure the safety of the public was by monitoring offenders after release with effective probation services. "The essence of early release is that there should be proper control over that prisoner," he said.Sir David said the way to ensure the safety of the public was by monitoring offenders after release with effective probation services. "The essence of early release is that there should be proper control over that prisoner," he said.
But he denied that sentencing needed to be tougher. "Sentencing has in fact increased over the last 20 to 30 years quite substantially," Sir David said.But he denied that sentencing needed to be tougher. "Sentencing has in fact increased over the last 20 to 30 years quite substantially," Sir David said.
Downing Street said the extra £85m for the CPS - which prosecutes criminal cases in England and Wales - will help staff respond to the rise in violent crime and an "explosion of digital evidence".Downing Street said the extra £85m for the CPS - which prosecutes criminal cases in England and Wales - will help staff respond to the rise in violent crime and an "explosion of digital evidence".
Director of public prosecutions Max Hill QC said the money came at a "crucial time" for criminal justice.Director of public prosecutions Max Hill QC said the money came at a "crucial time" for criminal justice.
In 2018-19 the CPS received £528m in government funding, according to its annual report.
The extra £85m will be paid for by the Treasury, a No 10 spokeswoman told the BBC.
Mr Hill said: "Our work is changing, and this new funding will provide the increased capacity to enable us to respond effectively to challenging trends we currently face."Mr Hill said: "Our work is changing, and this new funding will provide the increased capacity to enable us to respond effectively to challenging trends we currently face."
A spokesman from the CPS said the money would also help deal with the higher caseload they were anticipating as a result of Mr Johnson's plan to recruit 20,000 more police officers.A spokesman from the CPS said the money would also help deal with the higher caseload they were anticipating as a result of Mr Johnson's plan to recruit 20,000 more police officers.
The government's focus on law and order will add to speculation that No 10 is preparing for an autumn general election, said BBC political correspondent Jonathan Blake. 'Severely underfunded'
Opposition parties warned there was no easy fix for the current rise in violent crime. In 2018-19 the CPS received £528m in government funding, but lawyers said the additional funding over two years was only a "modest first step".
Liberal Democrat justice spokeswoman Wera Hobhouse said increasing prison sentences would merely "overcrowd prisons and waste millions of pounds". Chris Henley, chair of the Criminal Bar Association, said: "The criminal justice system is severely underfunded, as a result of relentless cuts over the last 10 years."
She said: "For years, Labour and Tory ministers have made sentences longer and longer, without any evidence that they prevent crime. He said more money was needed for the prosecution system and the courts to "restore public faith", as increasingly "those who commit crime walk free and the innocent risk being convicted".
"It may sound tough, but it hasn't made our communities any safer." Labour's shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott, accused the prime minister of "clearing the ground" for a general election rather than creating real solutions for the criminal justice system.
And Labour's shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott, said Mr Johnson was "clearing the ground" for an election, but he "doesn't quite explain how he will pay" to deliver on his promises. She said: "Anyone can promise tens of thousands of police officers, if you're not saying exactly how you're going to fund it. There's been a whole series of these promises and Boris doesn't explain how he will pay for it."