Justice PLC..its all about product placement.

I noticed this article in one of the London Free papers over a pint.The BEEB also carries a piece on it.Fortunately the BEEB didnt hold a phone in on it as the Editor might have called it 'New key worker flats unveiled'

I can understand, perhaps,the thinking behind it.But it is at best naive.
Naive to believe that those who carry weapons such as guns and knives with intent to maim and kill will be unduly worried by a transparent cell placed in a High Street.

Why? Firstly because the likelihood of them reaching that point is one that will have been hinted, cajoled and threatened by the System without ever occurring. When that 'Custodial Sentence' does utter from the Judges lips it ends up being so watered down by the System and they serve little time behind bars anyway.

What is different inside for them? They spend most of their day in bed. They get three squares and basic health care courtesy of the State and are allowed to mix with those of a similar mindset They know that there is a more than a reasonable end in sight.

I would like a series of advertisements,backed up by the law, along the lines of 'Before and After'. Pictures at the Gate of HMP as you enter and then as you leave......20 years later!

No Tags,No Community Service,No leniency for guilty plea...just straight time.

A few through the system under that regime will do more than any glorified Perspex boxes dotted around 'Hotspots'

Quality?.. or is it just about control?

There is apparently going to be a roll out of the 'Quality call back process'
Its function is to understand what it is like to be a customer of the MPS.
There have been Quality Assurance supervisors for some time now. They occupy offices dotted around the MET.What they do exactly is usually subject of more speculation than whats in Hanger 18.
This call back involves Supervisors calling victims, witnesses and other service users.They will ask a series of questions about services received. They must follow the Quality of Service Principles.
I have no problems with these as they are, in the main,just basic common sense and manners.You tell people who you are, explain what is going to happen next, keep people updated.
The main problem is that one of the principles is 'you find out what people want and provide it.
I know what victims want.
They want their crimes solved, their property back, the suspects caught and brought before a court and severely punished.Despite my best efforts I cant usually provide it.
I might be lucky to drag a number of jobs kicking and screaming to court but what they get at the end is out of my hands.

Quality control 'call backs' will not improve the end result for victims and witnesses.

It is a gimmick in the long running pretence that what we provide is something akin to Marks and Spencer.

I am sure the 'Quality Call back' roll out has kept legions busy in some Directorate somewhere.
It will be a matter of time I am sure before it is considered too expensive and a waste of limited resources. Perhaps a further suggestion that we farm it out to a call centre overseas.As belts are being tightened, budgets squeezed why not seek some form of private finance 'partnership'.
The conversation could run sonething like ... 'Thank you for taking the time in our questions into how Dibble dealt with your case. Now can I interest you in our sponsors latest offer?'