An alliance of Christian leaders is urging the government to work alongside churches, communities, and faith-based organisations to address failings in the UK’s criminal justice system.
Lead by the Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT), a new report highlights that churches, charities, and volunteers have taken on rehabilitation projects and local support work once handled by public services. Picking up the Pieces acknowledges that current failings are due to an “inherited” crisis of poor funding.
PACT represents the Church of England, the Catholic Church, the Quakers, the Free Churches Group, and other Christian bodies.
The alliance is calling for greater investment into programmes which address the root causes of crime.
One example is the Sycamore Tree prison fellowship programme, which ended in 2023. Its emphasis was on restorative justice – which can involve a face-to-face conversation between a victim and perpetrator, or the chance to send a letter. The rate of re-conviction amongst those who had participated in the programme reduced as much as 28 per cent.
Laura Beesley, Head of Communications at PACT told Premier Christian News: "For a very small investment, you can have a real impact on a community. Restorative justice has been proven to help victims heal, too.
"It's about acknowledging that people have innate human dignity... people have potential for reform. It isn't about condoning their crime, but accepting them as people of God. We have a role as Christians to lift people back up."
Picking up the Pieces also emphasises the need to support the children and families of prisoners, with almost 200,000 children in the UK affected by parental imprisonment every year. It urges the government to honour its 2024 manifesto pledge to identify and support these often-overlooked young people.
Additionally, the report highlights the need to resource faith-based communities. It proposes the creation of a small grants scheme for churches and charities already delivering transformational change.
The Rt Revd Rachel Treweek, Bishop of Gloucester and Anglican Bishop to His Majesty’s Prisons in England & Wales, said: “This report highlights the good work and dedication of Christians volunteering and working in the criminal justice system. They do extraordinary work coming alongside people in prison and families of both victims and offenders. I long for a criminal justice system that is responsible, relational and restorative and that transforms the lives of both victims and offenders. This invitation to the government to work alongside faith communities is welcome, and I hope and pray for many more transformed lives and communities.”