The Centre for Crime and Justice Studies at Kings College London has today published Ten years of criminal justice under Labour an independent audit (Solomon, E., Eades, C., Garside, R., Rutherford, M.). The report looks at spending levels on criminal justice as well as measuring the Governments performance against a range of key targets, including crime levels, re-offending and anti-social behaviour. The three big issues of policing, youth justice and drugs are also put under scrutiny.
The ten year drugs strategy Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain , written in 1998 and updated in 2002, identified the key areas of focus (reducing drug misuse among young people, protecting communities from drug-related criminal and anti-social behaviour, increasing the number of people in treatment and reducing the availability of illegal drugs). The reports authors conclude that although it is clear progress has been made in some if not all of these areas, just how much is difficult to measure given a constantly shifting set of targets.
According to the report, since 1998s comprehensive spending review developed these general objectives into cross-departmental Public Service Agreements, the targets for illegal drugs have been in a confused state of constant flux.
The report concludes that despite apparent progress against a number of targets, it is clear that there is a degree of disconnect between Labours policies and targets and what might be happening in terms of real levels of drug use, availability and associated harms.
Source: drugscope.blogspot.com/2007/01/criminal-justice-under-labour.html
Posted: 15th January 2007
For more information please contact Ruth Goldsmith in the DrugScope Press Office on 020 7940 7517 (07736 895563 out of hours) or at press@drugscope.org.uk
