Philip Owen
2 Oct 2019 · Coroner Alison Owen · Manchester (South)
The coroner's concerns
1. high risk offender released without supervision
“there are significant challenges that are difficult to mitigate to ensure a safe release from custody where a very short custodial sentence is imposed which means an individual who is a high risk offender is eligible for immediate release”
2. unclear risk communication to sentencing parties
“lack of clarity as to how effectively these risks had been communicated to those involved in sentencing and what if any guidance existed support them in taking steps to minimise the risks to the public”
3. insufficient risk information shared with court
“unclear how much information was shared with the court regarding the level of risk by the Prosecution or the Probation Service and what expectations were or guidance to those assisting a sentencing court in the discharge of their duty”
Responses
2019-0330-Response-from-the-HM-Prison-and-Probation-Service-Redacted.pdf ↗· Ministry of Justice
Stated action · 20 July 2018
“To ensure that such communication is effective, it is essential that systematic arrangements are in place to ensure regular and frequent liaison between the courts and probation providers.”