Today Nick Clegg outlined a programme of rehabilitation and community payback for those involved in the England riots last week.
Labour leader Ed Miliband chose to speak about the riots at his old school yesterday, while David Cameron delivered a speech on suitable punishments in front of a wall of colourful graffiti.
The deputy prime minister's setting was rather different. Surrounded by oil paintings with scenes from Captain Cook’s second voyage, the chandeliers of Whitehall never looked so conspicuous.
He had four main proposals to share with the assembled crowd of journalists: to establish an independent panel to “serve as a way for victims to have their voices heard”; the tendering of a Cabinet Office contract to research areas affected by the riots; and a “riot payback scheme” where offenders will have to wear orange jumpsuits to clean up areas affected.
“If you’ve got ideas of what they [rioters] should do, get onto your local probation website,” Clegg suggested.
“In every single one of the communities affected there will be community payback schemes, riot payback schemes, where you will see people in visible orange clothing making up the damage done, repairing and improving the neighbourhoods affected.”
But the fourth proposal set out by Clegg – and the one that may pose the most difficulty – will see providers of the Work Programme meet jailed rioters “at the prison gates”.
Affecting those released from prison from March next year, the rehabilitation scheme would put offenders through “ a tough process so that they find work and they stay on the straight and narrow”.
“The principle is really clear. We don't want a grandees committee, we want a grassroots process where people in the communities affected and the victims who have been so damaged and hurt can give their views about what needs to happen to ensure it doesn't happen again.”
But it begs the question, who would hire a looter? Would the Lib Dems?... Would Nick Clegg?... Or the Cabinet Office?
Those are not the kind of employment opportunities likely to be offered by the Work Programme.
“If the powerful, rich and famous can break rules, of course that has a corrosive effect,” Clegg replied to a question on the morality of bankers and politicians. “It’s got to be one rule for everybody.”
Except probably not, when it comes to hiring a convicted rioter.
Comments
S / August 16 2011 4:12pm
The riots have seen some crazy proposals and the the use of the Work Programme to encourage rioters back into employment has to be one of the craziest.
The providers of these pernicious programmes, in the main private training organisations,have touted for this business by undercutting traditional providers, often at the expense of quality. The word on the street is that they are already instructing their staff to select only those who are most likely to gain employment for training, as they are chasing the outcome premiums and do not want to provide resources and training for those who will be hard to place. So if you are a young person who has already part qualified and been working voluntarily and with a great report from school your in luck, step this way; if you dropped out, or didn't achieve your GCSE's well sorry, all our places have been taken.
The Government should listen to those people who are dealing with this on the ground, the Youth Workers and the Job Advisors who say that in the current climate there is no hope of getting work for an ex offender, and not those delivering the Work Programme who are only interested in easy wins. It's laughable to propose that they will meet ex rioters at the prison gates and put them through tough programmes; only if they are paid a great deal more money.
I suspect that any additional funds would be more effective spent elsewhere.
Paul McKeown / August 17 2011 12:19am
We don't hang petty thieves, looters, rioters, muggers or arsonists anymore, nor do we transport them to van Diemen's land, either. Full life tariffs are barbaric, except for the most heinous crimes.
Therefore at some point the vast majority of prisoners will be released into the community at some point. Therefore rehabilitation is essential, otherwise the released prisoner will simply fall back on old ways. If suitable work is not available, the prisoner will eventually turn his or her hand to acquisitive crime, merely as a way to survive. Ken Clarke seemed to understand this, but, sadly George Osborne wanted reductions in the cost of the criminal justice system, now, rather than years down the line.
None of this is rocket science. However too many spineless politicians prefer to march to the gallows tumbrel of the Daily Mail, fearful of being broken on its wheel should they not keep step.
I congratulate Nick Clegg on this proposal. It is a positive move.