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Newest ministry set to reorganise | Newest ministry set to reorganise |
(about 6 hours later) | |
The UK's newest government department has announced a reorganisation less than a year after it was launched. | The UK's newest government department has announced a reorganisation less than a year after it was launched. |
Justice Secretary Jack Straw says the Prison Service is being merged with other parts of the justice system. | |
The move comes after widespread criticism of the National Offender Management Service (Noms) partly set up to tackle rates of reoffending. | The move comes after widespread criticism of the National Offender Management Service (Noms) partly set up to tackle rates of reoffending. |
The Tories attacked the reorganisation, saying the government's strategy to cut reoffending is now in tatters. | The Tories attacked the reorganisation, saying the government's strategy to cut reoffending is now in tatters. |
Ministers set up Noms to join up the different parts of the criminal justice system dealing with offenders. | Ministers set up Noms to join up the different parts of the criminal justice system dealing with offenders. |
The Home Office believed it could cut reoffending if it could manage more closely the rehabilitation of offenders between custody and the community. | The Home Office believed it could cut reoffending if it could manage more closely the rehabilitation of offenders between custody and the community. |
However, the umbrella body over prisons, probation and other elements of criminal justice was accused of wasting money. | However, the umbrella body over prisons, probation and other elements of criminal justice was accused of wasting money. |
Its flagship computer system to provide "end-to-end" tracking of offenders and their progress towards rehabilitation has been massively scaled back. | Its flagship computer system to provide "end-to-end" tracking of offenders and their progress towards rehabilitation has been massively scaled back. |
Review of operations | Review of operations |
Announcing the changes to the Ministry of Justice, Mr Straw said the reorganisation was part of the department's review of operations, including the future of prisons. | Announcing the changes to the Ministry of Justice, Mr Straw said the reorganisation was part of the department's review of operations, including the future of prisons. |
Ministers must ensure that the changes do not result in yet another over bearing bureaucracy and that resources are diverted to the grossly under funded front line Harry Fletcher, Napo | Ministers must ensure that the changes do not result in yet another over bearing bureaucracy and that resources are diverted to the grossly under funded front line Harry Fletcher, Napo |
The Prison Service and Probation Service would be brought together in a "streamlined headquarters" from 1 April, said Mr Straw. | The Prison Service and Probation Service would be brought together in a "streamlined headquarters" from 1 April, said Mr Straw. |
"The new structure will provide the Ministry of Justice with a sharper focus on its key priorities, including public protection and reducing re-offending, and improving relations with the judiciary, while streamlining leadership across the whole of the Department's agenda. | "The new structure will provide the Ministry of Justice with a sharper focus on its key priorities, including public protection and reducing re-offending, and improving relations with the judiciary, while streamlining leadership across the whole of the Department's agenda. |
"These changes will ensure a more joined-up approach to issues of justice and constitutional reform and will ensure that we create the right conditions for the delivery of the Ministry of Justice's wide agenda." | "These changes will ensure a more joined-up approach to issues of justice and constitutional reform and will ensure that we create the right conditions for the delivery of the Ministry of Justice's wide agenda." |
'Farcical' move | 'Farcical' move |
But shadow justice secretary Nick Herbert attacked the announcement, saying it was "farcical" to announce a re-organisation less than a year after the launch of the Ministry of Justice. | But shadow justice secretary Nick Herbert attacked the announcement, saying it was "farcical" to announce a re-organisation less than a year after the launch of the Ministry of Justice. |
"This announcement effectively spells the demise of Noms, which has only been in existence for three years, yet has cost the taxpayer over £1bn at a time when frontline criminal justice services and the prison budget are being cut," he said. | "This announcement effectively spells the demise of Noms, which has only been in existence for three years, yet has cost the taxpayer over £1bn at a time when frontline criminal justice services and the prison budget are being cut," he said. |
"The scaling back of the IT system has already fatally undermined the principle of offender management which, as this announcement confirms, is only being applied to some offenders." | "The scaling back of the IT system has already fatally undermined the principle of offender management which, as this announcement confirms, is only being applied to some offenders." |
Harry Fletcher of union Napo, which represents probation officers, said the announcement was a "tacit admission" that Noms had failed. | Harry Fletcher of union Napo, which represents probation officers, said the announcement was a "tacit admission" that Noms had failed. |
"There is however a real risk that probation will be diminished in the new structure because of the financial demands of the prison service," said Mr Fletcher. | "There is however a real risk that probation will be diminished in the new structure because of the financial demands of the prison service," said Mr Fletcher. |
"Ministers must ensure that the changes do not result in yet another over bearing bureaucracy and that resources are diverted to the grossly under funded front line." | "Ministers must ensure that the changes do not result in yet another over bearing bureaucracy and that resources are diverted to the grossly under funded front line." |
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