Violent Offender Orders
Posted on Tuesday, August 28th, 2007 by Home Office WatchCategory: Crime, Probation
It looks like proposed Violent Offender Orders will cause yet another split between government and the judges.
The Guardian reports:
Senior judges have warned ministers they risk a re-run of their clash with the courts over control orders by introducing new proposals that will place “massive restrictions” on certain convicted violent offenders after they have left prison.
The problems are not only those of proportionality and practicality raised by the judges. If those who breach orders face a five-year prison sentence, there’s bound to be a knock-on effect on prison numbers, already at record highs. Probation officers are already massively overworked, and it isn’t clear how they will find the time and resources to enforce VOOs as welll.
Perhaps the government should revisit Ming Campbell’s proposals for a more proportionate and manageable Violent Offenders Register, first suggested in May 2006. It has the clear advantage that it might actually help instead of hinder the criminal justice system…
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