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| Public 'need to see justice done' | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Criminals' punishment needs to be much more "visible" to restore public confidence in the justice system, a review for the Cabinet Office says. | Criminals' punishment needs to be much more "visible" to restore public confidence in the justice system, a review for the Cabinet Office says. |
| Louise Casey's paper says people in England and Wales feel "cut off" from a "distant, unaccountable" system. | Louise Casey's paper says people in England and Wales feel "cut off" from a "distant, unaccountable" system. |
| She suggests neighbourhood police hold regular public meetings and issue leaflets so victims and local people know offenders have been caught. | She suggests neighbourhood police hold regular public meetings and issue leaflets so victims and local people know offenders have been caught. |
| The review, which is intended to inform policy, makes about 30 recommendations. | The review, which is intended to inform policy, makes about 30 recommendations. |
| The government's crime and communities advisor spent eight months consulting 13,000 people in England and Wales for the review - ordered by Prime Minister Gordon Brown to raise confidence in criminal justice. | The government's crime and communities advisor spent eight months consulting 13,000 people in England and Wales for the review - ordered by Prime Minister Gordon Brown to raise confidence in criminal justice. |
| We're all a little tired of hearing about the human rights and civil liberties of people who break the law Louise CaseyReview author | We're all a little tired of hearing about the human rights and civil liberties of people who break the law Louise CaseyReview author |
| The review is intended to improve the balance between treating people, preventing crime and keeping the public informed. | |
| Ms Casey said, particularly with low level crime like vandalism, victims often did not realise that someone had been charged and punished - she suggested that leaflets could be distributed with details on offenders. | Ms Casey said, particularly with low level crime like vandalism, victims often did not realise that someone had been charged and punished - she suggested that leaflets could be distributed with details on offenders. |
| 'Cut off' | 'Cut off' |
| "We're all a little tired of hearing about the human rights and civil liberties of people who break the law. | "We're all a little tired of hearing about the human rights and civil liberties of people who break the law. |
| "For years we have been listening to that - who is speaking up for the rights of law-abiding decent people?" she told BBC Breakfast. | "For years we have been listening to that - who is speaking up for the rights of law-abiding decent people?" she told BBC Breakfast. |
| "I'm tired of the public being cut off from the criminal justice system, the public are tired," she added. | "I'm tired of the public being cut off from the criminal justice system, the public are tired," she added. |
| PROPOSALS EXPECTED Anonymity for elderly court witnessesMore fining powers for PCSOsLeaflets detailing convictionsHigh visibility bibs for offendersIndependent crime figures body | PROPOSALS EXPECTED Anonymity for elderly court witnessesMore fining powers for PCSOsLeaflets detailing convictionsHigh visibility bibs for offendersIndependent crime figures body |
| She recommends that offenders serving community sentences be made more "visible" to identify that they are being punished. | She recommends that offenders serving community sentences be made more "visible" to identify that they are being punished. |
| She also calls for the "intensity" of their sentence be increased, so they spend five days a week - or three nights a week and one day a weekend if employed - carrying out tasks like litter-picking or cleaning up graffiti. | She also calls for the "intensity" of their sentence be increased, so they spend five days a week - or three nights a week and one day a weekend if employed - carrying out tasks like litter-picking or cleaning up graffiti. |
| It says people convicted of crimes "disappear into the system" adding: "We need to get over some of the hand-wringing that says we cannot put them in a uniform." | It says people convicted of crimes "disappear into the system" adding: "We need to get over some of the hand-wringing that says we cannot put them in a uniform." |
| 'Jumpsuit' debate | 'Jumpsuit' debate |
| However, she said she did not want to "see this debate trivialised into should you or should you not wear some kind of jumpsuit". | However, she said she did not want to "see this debate trivialised into should you or should you not wear some kind of jumpsuit". |
| The review is also expected to say that many people do not know how to contact police in a non-emergency and that many police targets should be scrapped, with police focusing on the goal of making people feel safe. | The review is also expected to say that many people do not know how to contact police in a non-emergency and that many police targets should be scrapped, with police focusing on the goal of making people feel safe. |
| She said people do not believe crime has fallen, and think the law is stacked in favour of offenders' rights. | She said people do not believe crime has fallen, and think the law is stacked in favour of offenders' rights. |
| This is an admission of failure on government policies on crime and anti-social behaviour James BrokenshireConservatives | This is an admission of failure on government policies on crime and anti-social behaviour James BrokenshireConservatives |
| And it says people should be trained and equipped to play a stronger role in tackling crime, although Ms Casey said people should be "vigilant, not vigilantes" - and be made aware of what they can expect from the police. | And it says people should be trained and equipped to play a stronger role in tackling crime, although Ms Casey said people should be "vigilant, not vigilantes" - and be made aware of what they can expect from the police. |
| It suggests elderly victims of crime may get anonymity in court, with similar special measures for disabled victims and people who fear they will face reprisals for speaking up. | It suggests elderly victims of crime may get anonymity in court, with similar special measures for disabled victims and people who fear they will face reprisals for speaking up. |
| Police community support officers should get more powers - for example to issue fines for drunken behaviour. | Police community support officers should get more powers - for example to issue fines for drunken behaviour. |
| Needs of victims | Needs of victims |
| And there should be a "public commissioner on crime" to champion people's concerns - while an independent body should be responsible for producing national crime figures, rather than the Home Office. | And there should be a "public commissioner on crime" to champion people's concerns - while an independent body should be responsible for producing national crime figures, rather than the Home Office. |
| The review suggests that 55% of the public believe crime is the most important issue facing Britain, while 29% think sentences are too lenient. | The review suggests that 55% of the public believe crime is the most important issue facing Britain, while 29% think sentences are too lenient. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| Some 33% suggest they do not think the criminal justice system meets the needs of victims. | Some 33% suggest they do not think the criminal justice system meets the needs of victims. |
| The probation union Napo has criticised plans to give probation officers powers to extend the time served by offenders on community penalties as an abuse of the legal process. | The probation union Napo has criticised plans to give probation officers powers to extend the time served by offenders on community penalties as an abuse of the legal process. |
| Its assistant general secretary Harry Fletcher, said: "Probation must not be put in the position where it is judge and jury." | |
| And for the Conservatives, James Brokenshire said: "This is an admission of failure on government policies on crime and anti-social behaviour. | And for the Conservatives, James Brokenshire said: "This is an admission of failure on government policies on crime and anti-social behaviour. |
| "It acknowledges the public remain deeply concerned about the levels of crime and disorder on their streets." | "It acknowledges the public remain deeply concerned about the levels of crime and disorder on their streets." |
| He said the government had failed to tackle "this very serious problem". | He said the government had failed to tackle "this very serious problem". |