Parliament debates our short prison sentences proposals
An amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill the Centre has supported was discussed by the Bill Committee on Wednesday, 23rd June 2021.
The new clause aims to reduce the use of custody for less serious offending, for which there are better and more appropriate responses in the community.
In support of the amendment Alex Cunningham MP said;
I begin by thanking the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies for its work on this new clause. Its considered and thoughtful approach to reform in this area has been utterly invaluable.
Chris Philp MP agreed the government are ‘keen to see alternatives to short custodial sentences’ but considered the measures in the proposed clause as either unnecessary, or as too restrictive.
What next?
The clause was withdrawn. This leaves the way open for the amendment to be reintroduced in the House of Lords, should there be support for this.
Read the amendment itself and a full transcript of the debate (starts column 699) and Helen Mills’s article on the reform proposals.