Social Exclusion

Part of Constitutional Affairs – in the House of Commons at 11:30 am on 19 December 2006.

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Photo of Vera Baird Vera Baird Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 11:30, 19 December 2006

My hon. Friend makes a very good point about integration between the criminal justice sector and the social welfare sector. There is an obvious link involving people who need social welfare support and advice and who, if they do not get it, descend into criminal activity. The community justice centres—the pilot is in Liverpool, and 10 more have just been announced—aim to problem-solve. They are closely linked with all the problems in the community. The judge makes it his business to go out in the community and ensure that he knows what is going on. Advice resources are available at court, not only for defendants, whose problems are shown up by their offending, but for witnesses and victims. Victims are often thrown into social exclusion by their victimisation, and they, too, can receive advice and assistance at court. There is growing integration between advice in the criminal sector and that in the social welfare sector, which is wholly desirable.