Relative Justice
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| Dear …………………. MP,
I am writing to you on behalf of ……………………………….……. [federation/WI] to call for your support in pressing the Government for long term, secure funding for liaison and diversion services for people with mental health problems in the criminal justice system. Seven years ago, the WI launched a major campaign calling for an end to the inappropriate detention of people with mental health problems. This has been long established as a major failing in the criminal justice system. The campaign was inspired by the tragic death of Richard, the son of a WI member, who had schizophrenia and committed suicide in prison. Richard was a brilliant young man with a first class degree in physics. He was not a criminal and had no history of violence but ended up in custody after an incident with a replica air pistol in which he resisted arrest. Richard’s mother has described how she brought her experience to the WI ‘in the hope that this would never happen again’. There has been real progress to tackle this gap in the system over recent years. In 2011, the then Justice Secretary, Kenneth Clarke QC MP, teamed up with Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley MP, to announce plans to begin funding a national service to divert the mentally ill and vulnerable people with learning disabilities away from the justice system into more appropriate treatment and care. This initial funding was intended to help understand what works, and eventually shape a national programme for launch from 2014. Despite roll out of the national scheme being delayed, there has been further progress with the launch of two further tranches of liaison and diversion pilots and total investment of £75 million to date. The schemes now cover over 50% of the population of England. In the last year, across one hundred custody suites, they’ve supported more than 18,000 people. Emerging evidence on the impact that these schemes can have is very positive. As a recent report – Relative Justice - by the Prison Reform Trust and Partners of Prisoners and Families Support Group has demonstrated, health interventions can prove a real life line, often in complex circumstances. The Treasury will soon be reviewing the business case for the roll out of liaison and diversion schemes. If approval is given, they will be extended to cover the whole of England by 2018. Whilst we are seeing real progress, this business case decision will be key. We urge you to support the business case for full national roll out by 2017/2018 and press the Government for long term, secure funding for liaison and diversion services. We would be very grateful if you would be willing to raise this matter with the Secretary of State for Health and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. We look forward to your response. Yours Sincerely, ……………………………….(Name) ……………………………….(WI) …………………………………….(Federation) Directory: data -> assets -> word doc -> 0003 0003 -> Finding Solutions Program guidelines February 2012 0003 -> A helpful hand from Technology in the teritary environment 0003 -> Applying for Screening Information on Browser Compatibility for tls 0003 -> Esps Contact Details Sites 0003 -> Road Smart Teacher Toolkit 0003 -> Please let Simon Tadd know if you will be away so your volunteer period can be covered 0003 -> What is apsedii? 0003 -> CityLink Tulla Widening 0003 -> Working Paper 1: future trends and mass transit 2050 Download 5.43 Kb. Share with your friends:
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