Criminals May Face Bans from Pubs, Sports Events Under Sentencing Review
Criminals could be prohibited from attending pubs, sports grounds, and social events as part of alternative sentencing options, according to proposals being considered by the UK government in a review of the sentencing system. Sarah Sackman, the courts minister, informed the Guardian that such bans, along with mandatory work for offenders, could replace prison sentences. These ideas are part of a broader review initiated by the former Conservative Lord Chancellor David Gauke.
Sackman suggested that ideas being proposed by the Bar Council of England and Wales to restrict offenders from social gatherings are under consideration. The review also aims to address the record-high backlog of court cases and the overcrowding of prisons. Sackman firmly stated that all these suggestions will be considered as part of Gauke’s sentencing review, which is looking at alternatives to prison and strategies to reduce reoffending.
The Labour government is under pressure to tackle the 73,000-case backlog and overcrowded prisons. In response to rising rates of self-harm among young offenders, the government has decided to end the placement of girls in young offender institutions and instead place them in secure schools or children’s homes, given that girls are disproportionately represented in self-harm incidents.
Sackman also faced criticism from the parliament’s spending watchdog for the government’s handling of the backlog, with accusations of being overly reliant on the current review. Despite overseeing a 20,000-strong increase in police officers and a rise in complex cases, the department has been criticized for the growing backlog. Sackman countered these claims, asserting that a comprehensive plan is in place to address the issue through criminal legal aid reforms, extended court operations, and increased sentencing powers.
**
