Collective Voice responds to the Independent Sentencing Review consultation

Collective Voice has submitted a response to the consultation being run as part of the Independent Sentencing Review.

We include several recommendations in response to the questions asked by the review team, fundamentally looking to expand use of community sentences and ensure people receive tailored, effective support to help them improve their lives and reduce their offending, therefore reducing crime and making communities safer.

This should mean an increase in the use of specialised support through interventions such as Alcohol Treatment Requirements (ATRs) and Drug Rehabilitation Requirements (DRRs).  We know that use of these has fallen significantly over the last 10-15 years, and that’s down to a lack of knowledge, confidence and capacity across the criminal justice system.

We therefore recommend a system-wide approach to ensure magistrates and others across the criminal justice system are aware of these interventions, and there are clear, effective pathways for people to access them.

The consultation asks about the potential uses of technology, and we note that there are definitely opportunities to use technology to improve how we design and deliver our services, and identify when people might need more intensive support.

But there are also some challenges with technology that we felt we needed to highlight.  ‘Alcohol tags’ have been identified as an effective intervention for some individuals and offences (notably drink driving), but we advise that Government should be cautious and questioning when thinking about applying this form of tagging to other drugs.  The technology to monitor each drug is slightly different, so there’s a possibility that if you apply a ‘tag’ for one drug – or even a selection of substances – people will change what substances they use to avoid detection.  This could put people at greater risk as they use substances they’re less familiar with and their bodies are less used to – and that health professionals are less familiar with, and so less well-equipped to help if something goes wrong.

The review also asks about support in prison, and as with community sentences we emphasise the importance of effective, tailored support.  At the moment, substance use treatment in prisons is one element within a much larger general healthcare contract, and we think that means it doesn’t always get the attention it deserves.  This is partly because, although it sits within health and is commissioned by NHS England, it supports key outcomes that aren’t specifically health-related: reducing drug use in prisons, and reducing reoffending once people leave.  We’ve therefore recommended that the Government reconsiders how they monitor and commission these services.

We know that crime is often linked to substance use, and if we are able to address the underlying causes of these issues through treatment, we can reduce crime and help ensure people are safer in their communities.  And we know drug use in prison, as the Chief Inspector of Prisons noted last year, has become a huge challenge.  Again, as the Chief Inspector noted, effective treatment can help address this.

We look forward to working with the review team and the Government on how to improve support for people who use substances, which will improve lives and reduce crime.

Read our full response here (pdf).