Justice

Probation reform: doing it all?

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling’s probation reforms are ambitious and complex. How should the Ministry of Justice attempt to reduce the risks that accompany changing everything at once? Read more

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Funding favouritism

It might not seem like it to people working across the health service, but the NHS is one of the lucky ones when it comes to funding. Read more

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PCCs: muddled policy shambolically implemented

Police and crime commissioners are a rubbish idea that is going from bad to worse. It’s not just the disastrous elections and public antipathy, PCCs now have to come up with credible crime plans despite tricky power sharing arrangements and drastic budget cuts Read more

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What next for police and crime commissioners?

When police and crime commissioners take up their new posts after one of the lowest election turnouts in history, they will need to work closely with local partners and not just focus on national campaigning Read more

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Pragmatism, not prejudice, on prisons

The government’s U-turn on prison outsourcing does not mean that ministers have abandoned their commitment to public sector reform or to increased competition. Too many people confuse outsourcing with reform Read more

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Commission possible for police?

As elected police and crime commissioners settle into their new roles over the next few weeks, they will have to find ways to steer their forces through a world of shrinking budgets, fewer staff and changing technology   Read more

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Children ‘don’t belong in jail’

Next year, local authorities will take over financial responsibility for children on remand. This is a good move as councils should be able to support the children and help keep them out of custody Read more

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Outsourcing the Bill

Contracting out police services poses difficult questions and a variety of risks. We need a serious debate if public confidence in policing is to be maintained Read more

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Scottish police and fire service reform: some tough questions

The Scottish Government’s ambitious plans to create single, national police and fire services for Scotland are not without risk and important questions need to be answered

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Obsessive personality disorders

The chattering classes tend to get much more excited by the personality clashes at party conferences than by the politics Read more

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