Oral Answers to Questions

Jeff Smith Excerpts

Tuesday 9th October 2018 Commons Chamber

[Chris Elmore (Ogmore) (Lab)]

5. What assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of sentences of less than three months in reducing reoffending.

[Jeff Smith (Manchester, Withington) (Lab)]

18. What assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of sentences of less than three months in reducing reoffending.

[Vicky Foxcroft (Lewisham, Deptford) (Lab)]

19. What assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of sentences of less than three months in reducing reoffending.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Gauke]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his remarks. He referred to the female offender strategy; as he will be aware, its focus is on alternatives to custody, particularly for minor offences. There are particular issues for females offenders in respect of the nature of the offences and the issues that female offenders face, so it is right that we implement the new strategy.

[Jeff Smith]

Over the past five years, the use of community sentences has declined, and it has declined fastest for theft and drugs offences. Does the Secretary of State think that prison is the best place for people with drug addictions and shoplifting convictions? If not, how is he going to reverse that trend?

[Mr Gauke]

Often, it is not the right place, which is why my hon. Friend the Prisons Minister and I have been clear that we need to consider alternatives to custody and explore what more we can do with community sentences. In some cases, the issue is getting to the heart of the problem, which often might be drug dependency and so on. Some encouraging pilots are ongoing in respect of community sentence treatment requirements. Those are some of the steps that we are taking. I welcome the hon. Gentleman’s support for our approach.