UK government drops plans to publish photos and names of offenders under community orders | Prisons and probation
Ministers have abandoned controversial plans to photograph, name and shame criminals ordered to complete unpaid community work in Labour’s latest U-turn.
The plans, first revealed by the Guardian, would see details of the trials and community work of people convicted of minor crimes published on government websites and promoted through local media.
But following concerns that the material could be used to humiliate the children of criminals, the Ministry of Justice has agreed to an amendment to the criminal bill that would remove the right to publish the names and photographs of criminals.
It comes as Keir Starmer faces criticism from his own supporters for a series of policy changes amid growing popularity.
Offenders can be sentenced to an “unpaid work requirement” under community orders and suspended sentence orders. This work can last anywhere from 40 to 300 hours, and the offender is often required to wear a high-vis jacket marked “community payback” to undertake projects in the local area.
Officials said in September that they planned to give probation officers the authority to obtain and publish the names and pictures of people assigned by courts to trim lawn edges, pick up trash or scrub graffiti. Approximately 5 million hours of unpaid work were carried out during the year until April 2024.
While “community revenge” was planned to be rapidly expanded, authorities argued that publishing the names and photographs of the criminals would show the public that justice had been served.
The powers were included in Article 35 of the draft sentence, but faced criticism from senior figures involved in the probation process. HM chief probation officer Martin Jones told the Guardian this could result in more offenders leaving school. “If the criminals are coming to do the job, I don’t see any reason why their photos shouldn’t be published either,” he said.
Ian Lawrence, general secretary of probation officers’ union Napo, said the change would bring shame to the families of offenders, especially children. “This proposed policy has no benefit for the rehabilitation of offenders but could have potentially devastating effects on innocent family members, namely children,” he said.
Lord Timpson, the prisons minister, announced the government would abandon the policy when debating the bill in the House of Lords earlier this month. He said: “I am pleased that the current provision of unpaid work, supported by the wider provisions in the Bill, means that unpaid work will continue to be sufficiently difficult and visible without the addition of this specific measure.”
The Labor government has faced criticism for chaotic mismanagement after watering down plans for compulsory identity cards for employees, offering temporary support to pubs shortly after announcing plans to increase tax rates, and changing plans for a so-called “tractor tax” on farmland.
The bill will now return to the House of Commons for final agreement. A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “The sentencing bill will make community sentences more difficult through increased labeling and containment zones, and unpaid work will enable offenders to give back to society and benefit the communities they harm.”
