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Crime and Justice Blogs

Labour shouldn’t be scrapping PCCs, it should be working out how to make them better
Glyn Gaskarth, Policy Exchange’s Head of Crime & Justice, calls for Labour not to scrap PCCs. Glyn points out the good work many Labour PCCs have been doing on issues that Labour voters really care about, and asks what why an alternative arrangement would be better. He calls for Labour to instead develop a vision for how they would improve the role.

Britain’s sink estates can – and must – be turned around
Gavin Knight, author of our report The Estate We’re In, highlights how deprived estates can be successfully transformed from within by locally-minded, determined and creative individuals who catalyse huge change. Our report calls for politicians from all parties to pledge to turn around the most deprived council estates within the next decade and uses case studies, such as those outlined in the blog, to extract best practice.

Do we need a specific offence of domestic violence?
Charlotte McLeod, Policy Exchange’s Crime & Justice Research Fellow, considers whether we need a specific offence of domestic violence. Charlotte argues that a new offence would require extensive consultation, legal expertise and a continued commitment to tackle it.

Court closures may not be a vote winner, but they could hold the key to improving our justice system and meeting budget targets
Charlotte McLeod, Policy Exchange’s Crime & Justice Research Fellow, argues that a strategic review of the court estate is needed in order to improve efficiency and effectiveness. Charlotte proposes that the government should close courts that are outdated and unfit for purpose and introduce mobile or temporary courts and ‘Justice Hubs’ in order to dispense justice – as recommended in our report, Future Courts.

Property crime matters, and it’s time to put it on the map
David Lammy MP, Policy Exchange’s new Visiting Fellow, calls for property crime to be tackled head on. It is an issue that touches people from all backgrounds, but particularly the low paid and most disadvantaged, yet half of all reported property crimes result in ‘no further action’ by the Metropolitan Police. Property crime needs to shoot up the public policy agenda as a matter of urgency.

Domestic Violence: Time to shift the blame from victims to perpetrators
Charlotte McLeod, Policy Exchange’s Crime & Justice Research Fellow, highlights the problems with the criminal justice system’s approach to domestic violence. Charlotte argues that we need to find alternative, more proactive ways of tackling domestic violence and improving the confidence for victims that their abusers will be convicted. Ultimately, however, she argues that we must also see society change its attitude and shift the blame and responsibility from victims to perpetrators

Swifter and more certain justice will drive down crime
Max Chambers, Policy Exchange’s Head of Crime & Justice, sets out what improvements need to be made to the justice system in order to actually change criminals’ behaviour. The system would be need to be faster, so that the connection between offence and punishment is not lost over time, punishment would be more certain through greater detection of crime, and more problem-solving techniques would be incorporated.

Ending FGM in the UK: Failures of the past and hope for the future
Charlotte McLeod, Policy Exchange’s Crime & Justice Research Fellow, highlights the shameful failure of the UK government to properly tackle female genital mutilation, despite the practice being outlawed 30 years ago. Charlotte sets out five ways in which the government can do more to eliminate the practice.

Reforming the courts
Reforming the courts

Drug Courts work in America – and can work here
Policy Exchange’s Head of Crime & Justice Max Chambers makes the case for the introduction of drugs courts in the UK. These courts would offer people the treatment they need, but demand more of them in return, with judges given a flexible range of available incentives and sanctions to deploy. Max shows how in the US, such courts have saved $3 in avoided criminal justice costs for every $1 spent, rising to $26 in wider societal savings.