Falconer Unveils New UK Ministry of Justice

by Robin Pilgrim, LawAndTax-News.com, London

02 April 2007

Department for Constitutional Affairs head, Lord Falconer, last week unveiled as the UK's first Secretary of State for Justice, hailed the creation of the new Ministry of Justice as a "huge step forward" in the government's drive to reform courts, prisons and the probation service.

Suggesting that it made sense to bring together all the people involved in the justice system, Lord Falconer announced that:

"I am honoured to have been chosen by the Prime Minister for the task of focusing the justice system on what matters - protecting the public and reducing re-offending."

"It makes sense to bring under one roof everyone looking after the criminal and civil courts, sentencing, imprisonment, community penalties and rehabilitation."

"This is a huge step forward in making sure we have a justice system that works for the public, punishes the guilty and offers a realistic prospect of rehabilitation for the contrite."

The Ministry of Justice will come into being on May 9, and will comprise the National Offender Management Service from the former Home Office, the Office for Criminal Justice Reform and the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA).

The new department will have responsibility for the courts, sentencing, prisons, and rehabilitation, in addition to DCA policies like voting, crown dependencies, human rights, tribunals and freedom of information.

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