Community Sentences (Hansard, 7 September 2004)

§ Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reporting procedures are for the performance of prison alternatives. [182285]

§ Paul Goggins
The National Probation Service (NPS) will shortly publish its annual report for 2003–04. In addition, each of the 42 operational areas of the NPS is required to produce its own annual report by the end of October.
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The National Probation Directorate produces a quarterly Performance Report, which sets out the extent to which local probation areas are performing against targets and how the key strategic obje#tives are being delivered. The reports are available on the NPS website (www.probation.homeoffice.gov.uk/output/page34.asp).
The Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate publishes Probation Statistics for England and Wales on an annual basis. This presents statistics and trends relating to the work of the service, including the number of offenders under different types of supervision, the number of reports produced and staff in post. The most recent edition, published in January 2004, covers the year 2002 and is available on the Home Office website (www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/ probationl.html). The web address also provides access to a number of Home Office Research Studies on themes relevant to the work of the NFS.

§ Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans the Government have to publicise successful outcomes of community sentencing; [182287]
(2) what plans he has to use the media to communicate information on community sentencing to the public; [182290]
(3) what measures (a) are in place and (b) he will introduce to demonstrate to the public that community sentences are serious penalties for offenders. [182294]

§ Paul Goggins
There is in place a communication strategy to improve public knowledge, understanding of, and confidence in, community sentences.
The Home Office and local Probation Areas are also working to increase the public's understanding and knowledge of the range of community sentences available to the courts. The aim is to demonstrate that community punishment can be tough and demanding, making sure that offenders put something back into the community. A national visibility scheme for community. The reparation marque 'Making Amends' identifies locations that have benefited from community work.
We will also promote public awareness of the new community sentences created by the Criminal Justice Act 2003, including Custody Minus and the new generic community sentence, as they come on stream next year.