Sarah Pochin

Sarah Pochin

Reform UK — Runcorn and Helsby

Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 October 2025

Debate

Sentencing Bill

Contribution

I thank shadow Minister for supporting me on that point. I turn to clauses 24, 36 and 37 with respect to licences. These clauses all give powers to the Probation Service to reduce the length of a community order imposed by the judge or magistrate. The Probation Service is underfunded and overstretched already, and the real risk is that offenders will have their requirements reduced by probation officers in order to free up capacity in the service. The probation officer already has discretion on the number of days of rehabilitation required, and it is dangerous to give any more quasi-judicial power to the Probation Service.

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