APPG on Complex Needs and Dual Diagnosis seeks cross-party support for Bradley Review Recommendations
The All Party Parliamentary Group on People with Complex Needs and Dual Diagnosis is seeking cross-party support for Lord Bradley’s recommendations for diverting people with mental health issues and/or a learning disability from the criminal justice system.
Labour have already demonstrated their commitment to Lord Bradley’s recommendations and the recently established Health and Criminal Justice Programme Board are now taking these recommendations forward. However, with the impending general election, the group wants to get agreement from the other major parties that this is an agenda they agree on and are committed to implementing.
At the group’s last meeting on 24th February, both David Burrowes MP (Conservative Shadow Justice Minister) and Norman Lamb MP (Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Health) said that this is a cause they were committed to. Clare Ward MP, Parliamentary (Under Secretary of State for Justice) and the minister responsible for Bradley Review implementation also wrote to the group saying she welcomed the theme of the meeting.
This news comes in the same week as a review published by analysts Laing and Buisson argued that diverting people with severe mental health problems from prison to secure hospital settings can help save £600,000 per individual over the course of their lifetime in re-offending and other costs. The group heard from the review’s author, Dr. Judy Renshaw. Social enterprise, Turning Point then spoke about services they are providing which offer such alternatives to prison. These include their Building Futures service in Rotherham. The new service will house twelve men with a learning disability and a history of offending in a low-secure setting, allowing improved social inclusion.
Turning Point’s Chief Executive, Lord Adebowale co-chairs the APPG along with Janet Dean MP and was happy with the outcome. He said;
“I’m pleased to see that cross-party support for the Bradley Review recommendations does seem to be there. However, work still needs to be done to get an official commitment and this is something we will be pursuing.”
“Laing and Buisson’s research proves that diversion is in fact capital cost-neutral. I would therefore be outraged if the next government, whoever it may be, were to use money as an excuse for not adopting a policy of diversion for those with mental health problems and/ or a learning disability from the criminal justice system.”
For more information contact
Sarah Creighton | Turning Point Press Office | 020 7481 7632
www.turning-point.co.uk
The APPG on People with Complex Needs and Dual Diagnosis aims to raise the profile of the issues which affect and concern people with complex needs; to encourage dialogue between parliamentarians, policy makers, service users and professionals; to help formulate practical proposals to improve the lives of the socially excluded. The group is co-chaired by Lord Victor Adebowale and Janet Dean MP. Turning Point acts as the secretariat for the group.