England: Watchdog chief warns criminal justice system ‘dysfunctional and defective’

Sir Thomas Winsor

Sir Thomas, Her Majesty’s chief inspector of constabulary, said the “inexcusably low” level of resourcing and investment in prevention of crime was leading to “human suffering and the waste of human potential”.

In particular, he highlighted a lack of investment in mental health services, and highlighted that “work in South Wales and elsewhere on adverse childhood experiences is paying rich dividends”.

Writing in an article for The Times, he blamed “public disinterest” for the current state of the criminal justice system.

Sir Thomas concluded: “People who are bad should be punished and if possible reformed. People who are unwell should be treated and, if possible, healed.

“Of course the public need to be kept safe from those who are dangerous, whether they are bad or unwell. But sick and dangerous people should be in secure hospitals or other care facilities, not prisons.

“Both cost money. If these things are resourced promptly, adequately and effectively, the cost in treasure, blood and human suffering will be far lower than it is today.

“It’s time for criminal justice, what it costs for what it achieves, to be properly understood and assessed, and for the public to decide how safe they want to be, and how well their money should be spent on achieving that. It isn’t working now.”

Sir Thomas, an Edinburgh University LLB graduate, served his legal apprenticeship at Thorntons & Dickies in Dundee before pursuing a career in London.