Oral Answers to Questions

Perran Moon Excerpts

Tuesday 22nd April 2025 Commons Chamber

[Perran Moon (Camborne and Redruth) (Lab)]

9. What steps her Department is taking to help reduce levels of reoffending by people on probation.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Sir Nicholas Dakin)]

I take this opportunity to recognise the excellent work that our probation staff do day in, day out. Probation is an indispensable part of the criminal justice system, but the service currently faces significant pressures. That is why we will recruit a further 1,300 probation officers by March 2026, invest £8 million in new technology to reduce administrative tasks for officers and focus efforts on reducing reoffending.

[Perran Moon]

May I take this opportunity to wish you a belated Pask lowen, Mr Speaker? 

Reoffenders are among the most socially excluded in society and often experience complex mental health and social issues, including drug and alcohol addiction. We know that perpetually locking them up does not work and costs a fortune. Can the Minister reassure me that he is working with both the Home Office and the Department of Health and Social Care to ensure that wraparound detox and rehabilitation support is available, such as that offered by Bosence Farm in Cornwall?

[Sir Nicholas Dakin]

Yes, I can reassure my hon. Friend. We work with the Department of Health and Social Care and the Home Office to get offenders into treatment at the earliest opportunity, and have increased the use of drug rehabilitation requirements as well as improved links to ensure that prison leavers stay in treatment on release. In 2025-26, the DHSC is providing £310 million in additional targeted grants to enable local authorities, including Cornwall, to improve services.