What is the Welsh Government doing to tackle the racial disparity in the Welsh prison and probation service, which disproportionately impacts minorities?
The UK Government is responsible for justice, including prisons and the probation service, but devolved Welsh services such as housing, education, social services and healthcare, play a vital role in supporting those who might be at risk of coming into contact with the justice system.
The Anti-racist Wales Action Plan is the Welsh Government’s commitment to take action with its partners, to make changes to address racial disparities in all spheres of society. The Plan has been co-constructed with key delivery bodies and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people. It is guided by lived experience, data and research findings highlighting areas of racial disparity, together with the huge body of evidence in the form of previous reports, public inquiries and other recommendations for change.
The Anti-racist Wales Action Plan includes a chapter on crime and justice, which sets out the work we are taking forward to tackle systemic discrimination in the justice system. Additionally, Criminal Justice Board for Wales partners including Policing in Wales, HM Prison and Probation Service in Wales and the Welsh Government, have developed a Criminal Justice in Wales Anti-Racism Plan setting out a range of system-wide commitments to embed an anti-racist approach to criminal justice across Wales.
The Women’s Justice and Youth Justice Blueprints for Wales, published in July 2019, embody our vision for Wales. Through them, we are working with a wide range of partners to support and divert vulnerable people away from crime and towards better futures for themselves, their families and their communities.