The Government are wholly committed to ensuring that a high quality service is provided to victims of serious crimes and to rebalancing the criminal justice system towards victims. The victim liaison service is a key part of delivering that commitment since it provides victims with both a means of being kept informed as the offender’s sentence progresses and opportunities to make representations on issues relating to their safety in the event of the prisoner being released.
The Government value the public sector and believe it must continue to play a major role in probation services. However, all current providers should be open to challenge and be given the opportunity to demonstrate that the services they offer are the best available. The Offender Management Act 2007 has established probation trusts, accountable through contract to the Secretary of State. We have asked probation boards to consider whether other providers have the capability to deliver service improvements and to contract with those providers who can demonstrate a more effective use of resources. This approach will allow the probation boards and trusts to focus more effectively on the core activity of offender management, and bring other providers in to deliver other services where appropriate.
As part of the move to the competitive provision of services, probation boards have been given a target of contracting out 10 per cent. of their service budget by the end of 2007/08. The London Probation Board has been working closely with the Regional Offender Manager to identify the services most appropriate for this process, and victim liaison is an area of operation where it has been agreed that steps should be taken to develop the use of external providers.
If the decision is taken to contract out the service, the statutory responsibility, and accountability for service delivery, would remain with the London Probation Board. Consequently, the London Probation Board would be accountable for ensuring that any contractor delivered its statutory responsibilities to the high standard required.