Dozens of criminal justice charities ‘gagged’ by public sector contracts under Chris Grayling

Chris Grayling

An investigation by the newspaper into so-called “gagging clauses” in government contracts suggests that some of Britain’s biggest charities have been effectively banned from speaking out over government policy.

It has uncovered evidence that at least 29 charities providing services on public sector contracts have been forced to agree that they must not “attract adverse publicity” to the Justice Secretary, who was Chris Grayling at the time.

Examples include prisoner rehabilitation charity Change, Grow, Love (CGL), which participates in a partnership involved in a £380 million contract to deliver probation services in the Midlands and has not issued any statements on the probation crisis under Mr Grayling’s leadership.

The Times also identified St Giles Trust, the Shaw Trust, the Prison Advice & Care Trust, Youth Support Service and Shelter among charities affected by the clauses.

However, the charities have denied that the clause has affected their work and The Times reports that they appear to have “adhered to the terms of their deals to varying degrees”.

A spokesperson for the UK government said the clauses are only designed to protect commercial interests.