*/
NICHOLAS Green QC, the Chairman of the Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has said the Bar Council is
willing to lend its support to the Secretary of State for Justice, Ken Clarke QC MP, as he makes tough and potentially unpopular decisions regarding the prison system, though they must lead to a better and more efficient administration of justice.
Responding to news reports that Ken Clarke was to address rising prison numbers, Nicholas Green QC said:
“The public needs protection from dangerous offenders; but far too often short sentences are just a costly ticket to a life of crime. “Our current approach to sentencing and imprisonment is failing. Prisons are expensive, and do not reduce recidivism. It makes no sense to pay so much for a system which does little more for the public than provide a security blanket, which all too frequently is pulled away by sky-high reoffending rates.
“The way forward is to depoliticise sentencing policy, allowing Judges greater freedom to impose the appropriate sentence, whatever
that might be. This will have a deflationary effect on prison numbers, save a huge amount of money and focus attention on tough and effective non-custodial sentences, which will include a valuable element of payback to society. We also need to consider other measures to prevent crime, which may well have a greater effect on offending than punishing after the event.
“The Bar Council has no political axe to grind. We represent barristers on all sides of the justice system. Barristers prosecute, defend and sit as Judges. The urgent need to reduce debt is actually a rare opportunity for bold reform and we will support Ken Clarke as hemakes these tough decisions based on rationality and not on what just sounds good."
Responding to news reports that Ken Clarke was to address rising prison numbers, Nicholas Green QC said:
“The public needs protection from dangerous offenders; but far too often short sentences are just a costly ticket to a life of crime. “Our current approach to sentencing and imprisonment is failing. Prisons are expensive, and do not reduce recidivism. It makes no sense to pay so much for a system which does little more for the public than provide a security blanket, which all too frequently is pulled away by sky-high reoffending rates.
“The way forward is to depoliticise sentencing policy, allowing Judges greater freedom to impose the appropriate sentence, whatever
that might be. This will have a deflationary effect on prison numbers, save a huge amount of money and focus attention on tough and effective non-custodial sentences, which will include a valuable element of payback to society. We also need to consider other measures to prevent crime, which may well have a greater effect on offending than punishing after the event.
“The Bar Council has no political axe to grind. We represent barristers on all sides of the justice system. Barristers prosecute, defend and sit as Judges. The urgent need to reduce debt is actually a rare opportunity for bold reform and we will support Ken Clarke as hemakes these tough decisions based on rationality and not on what just sounds good."
NICHOLAS Green QC, the Chairman of the Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has said the Bar Council is
willing to lend its support to the Secretary of State for Justice, Ken Clarke QC MP, as he makes tough and potentially unpopular decisions regarding the prison system, though they must lead to a better and more efficient administration of justice.
Sam Townend KC explains the Bar Council’s efforts towards ensuring a bright future for the profession
Giovanni D’Avola explores the issue of over-citation of unreported cases and the ‘added value’ elements of a law report
Louise Crush explores the key points and opportunities for tax efficiency
Westgate Wealth Management Ltd is a Partner Practice of FTSE 100 company St. James’s Place – one of the top UK Wealth Management firms. We offer a holistic service of distinct quality, integrity, and excellence with the aim to build a professional and valuable relationship with our clients, helping to provide them with security now, prosperity in the future and the highest standard of service in all of our dealings.
Is now the time to review your financial position, having reached a career milestone? asks Louise Crush
If you were to host a dinner party with 10 guests, and you asked them to explain what financial planning is and how it differs to financial advice, you’d receive 10 different answers. The variety of answers highlights the ongoing need to clarify and promote the value of financial planning.
On the 50th anniversary of the pub bombings, even now it is still unresolved. Chris Mullin, the journalist and former MP who led the campaign leading to the release of the Birmingham Six, looks back at events
Adele Akers’ reflections on health and wellbeing support at the very junior end of the Bar
Not one to say, ‘I told you so,’ Sam Thomas continues his cyber series with the key learnings from the major supply chain attack affecting 80 law firms and at least one set of chambers at the end of 2023
One year on and the Court of Appeal fails to quash convictions after receiving evidence of racism in the jury room, and there are still no revisions to the Equal Treatment Bench Book , says Keir Monteith KC
Increasing sophistication and frequency of attacks have led many chambers to ask ‘when’ not ‘if’ they will suffer a cyber incident. Simon Davis sets out the factors to consider when renewing your cyber cover
