Former LCJ on Gauke's sentencing review panel

Former Conservative lord chancellor David Gauke, who is leading a government-commissioned sentencing review to end the prison population crisis, will be supported by a former lord chief justice, it has emerged.

The Ministry of Justice revealed today that Lord Burnett of Maldon, who stepped down as head of the judiciary last year, is part of a six-strong panel supporting Gauke.

Also on the panel are retired Avon and Somerson police inspector Catherine Larsen KPM, criminal law barrister Nicola Padfield KC (Hon), former Crown Prosecution Service chief executive Sir Peter Lewis, former HM Prison and Probation Service chief executive Michael Spurr, and Andrea Simon, executive director at End Violence Against Women Coalition.

Lord chancellor Shabana Mahmood said: ‘No lord chancellor should be put in the invidious position I was on taking office – faced with a prison system on the verge of collapse. We must make sure there is always a cell to lock up dangerous offenders. This panel represents a wealth of experience. I have no doubt it will be invaluable in delivering a review which will help set out the long-term plan for our prisons.’

The Ministry of Justice said the review will consider how other jurisdictions have tackled rising prison populations.

Examples cited in today’s announcement include electronic monitoring in the Netherlands, mobile apps in Sweden to improve attendance at probation meetings, and a system in Texas that let prisoners cut the amount of time spent in custody by participating in courses tackling the root causes of their crime.

An eight-week call for evidence opened today. The review is seeking evidence on eight themes, including sentencing history and trends, custodial and community sentences and use of technology within sentencing.

The review will report to the lord chancellor by next spring.