Received from: POA
Congress recognises that in society there needs to be a criminal justice system that is fair, accessible and decent for all the public. Since 2010 the whole criminal justice system has fallen into disrepute whether it be access to legal aid, or a right to a fair trial. Congress also notes that for 13 years there has been major cuts to the Prison Service, policing, probation and courts system. Closures of courts throughout England and Wales has seen a major backlog of trials, cuts to the Prison Service has seen a demise in rehabilitation with overcrowding now the norm. Probation services have seen major cuts meaning the workload on probation officers is at stretching point leading to safety concerns when individuals are released with further serious offences being committed through no fault of probation officers.
Congress recognises that there is an urgent need for a root and branch review of the whole criminal justice system from policing to prisons our court system and probation service with emphasis on creating a justice system that is fully funded with improved terms and conditions so that we have a system that is fair, accessible and decent for all.
Conference therefore instructs the general council to campaign for a royal commission with all political parties so that these aims and objectives can be met.
POA
AMENDMENT
› In paragraph 1, sentence 4, after “backlog of trials” insert semi-colon after “trials”
› In paragraph 1, sentence 4, after “overcrowding is not the norm” insert:
“; and we are still seeing unacceptably high levels of assaults on prison officers and staff across the justice, immigration and custodial sector – with well over seven thousand incidents in the last twelve months. Closures of courts throughout England and Wales has seen a major backlog of trials; cuts to the Prison Service has seen a demise in rehabilitation with overcrowding now the norm; and we are still seeing unacceptably high levels of assaults on prison officers and staff across the justice, immigration and custodial sector – with well over seven thousand incidents in the last twelve months.”
Community