7. Debate: Probation Service Reform

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:54 pm on 23 October 2018.

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Photo of Gareth Bennett Gareth Bennett UKIP 5:54, 23 October 2018

Thanks to the Minister for bringing today's debate. The Minister, when he gave us his contribution—it was very interesting. The onus was very much on rehabilitation and, of course, a meaningful rehabilitation system is very necessary. Of course, it doesn't work for all offenders, but we have to put in place the infrastructure so that we can give people the opportunity to rehabilitate themselves as well, as quickly and as efficiently as possible, so they can reintegrate into society. I think that many, many different things are part of this rehabilitation. John Griffiths was also trying to link the different things together—housing issues, which were mentioned. Of course, we did have the inquiry on the local government committee into homelessness, and there was a difficulty with, particularly, short sentences, because we did speak to someone who was homeless, who'd recently been released from prison, and he gave us some insight into this. It does seem that this is a real issue, because housing and probation officers often don't have time to set up a resettlement programme, when prisoners are given short sentences. The system in that respect isn't very joined up, so we have to look at how that can be improved.

The Minister also mentioned skills, and that's also an important part of rehabilitation. Nick Ramsay gave his example of the careers fair at Prescoed, which I think is an example of good practice. Of course, I've been to careers fairs—not as an offender, I should point out—but I've been to careers fairs. Careers fairs in themselves may not achieve a lot; it depends what flows from that. But I think the idea of having a careers fair in a prison sounds like a good innovation.

Turning to the actual motion—