John Hayes announces review of offender learning

John Hayes, minister for further education and skills, has announced a review of learning for offenders in prisons and in the community. The government’s review has been designed to complement the autumn consultation announced last month by Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke, into reforming the justice system.

During a visit to HMP Wandsworth to tour its groundbreaking education centre, Mr Hayes emphasised the Government's commitment to reducing reoffending through positive interventions with offenders, prisons and the wider public, saying:

"In this country crime costs us around £60bn a year: a truly staggering figure. And we know that over £9bn of that is the result of reoffending.

"This is clearly wrong and we need to focus on protecting the public from the costs and effects of crime. With effective and relevant courses, ex-offenders will be better able to find work and so be less of a concern to the wider community and more of an asset to the economy.

"But we must also have value for money. The review I am undertaking will look at current courses and where they can be better tailored to social needs. Effective education is, and always will be, key to reform of the justice system."

Louise Casey, Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses said:

"The last thing victims of crime want is for that crime to happen to anyone else. That's why victims are welcoming of rehabilitation, in addition to punishment for offenders. I would welcome any measures that make rehabilitation more effective."

Responding to Louse Casey, John Hayes said: "Victims deserve better than people who leave prison going straight back to crime. Louse Casey is right, punishment and rehabilitation must be the dual purposes of criminal justice. The review I have ordered will look at what we spend, how we spend it and the effect of recidivism."

Prisons Minister Crispin Blunt MP said:

"I welcome this review into offender learning. Prisons are places of punishment but they should also be places of education, work and training.

"Education leading to employment has a key role in helping to reduce re-offending, protecting the public and preventing people from becoming the victims of tomorrow."

Finding a job is essential to breaking the cycle of crime that exists within families, providing positive role models to younger generations.

Yet half of men in prison and up to 70% of women have no qualifications at all, with two thirds of prisoners having literacy levels below that currently expected of 11 year olds.

By reviewing current provision, the Government is looking at how to make the system more effective and how the courses on offer can better reflect the current skills gaps.

The review will involve all those within government who are involved in offender learning, as well as charity and voluntary organisations. It will report back in the autumn as part of wider plans for reform and cost-saving across the sector.

Source: BIS