In 2019/20 the number of overall crime offences in the United Kingdom reached approximately 6.43 million, an increase of around 130 thousand offences when compared with the previous reporting year. Drug offence levels rose by 22% in April 2020 and 44% in May 2020 compared with April and May 2019. Should the justice system remain an expensive way of giving the public a break from offenders, before they return to commit more crimes. Should prisons become places of hard work and industry, instead of enforced idleness?  Should we put greater use on strenuous, unpaid work as part of a community sentence alongside tagging and curfews, delivered swiftly after sentencing.How do we move a previous offender away from a life of crime?

Steve Freer is the Co-founder and CEO of Tempus Novo. He spent 30 years working in the prison service, starting in 1986 at Wormwood Scrubs where he recognised that many repeat offenders came from poverty and were just following the family trade. Steve is recognised as one of the country’s most influential leaders in the criminal justice system. He is a member of the Centre for Social Justice Alliance looking at ways of improving UK prisons. He is also a Leadership Fellow of St George’s House, Windsor.