Better justice services in the Hutt Valley lauded

State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie today congratulated the collaborative approach being taken to deliver better justice services in the Hutt Valley.

Justice sector agencies have joined up with the community, local iwi and social agencies to make the Hutt Valley a safer place.

“The Ministry of Justice, Police and Corrections have joined forces with the Ministry of Social Development’s Child Youth and Family and the local community to deliver better justice services to the people in an innovative way,” said Mr Rennie.

Under the umbrella of the Hutt Valley Justice Sector Innovation Project, 13 agencies are working together to collectively solve problems and respond to the changing needs of the community.

Over the last eight months a number of exciting new initiatives have been launched, including:

· the Raising Achievement Across the Youth Sector (RAAYS) truancy reduction initiative which has seen a marked improvement in school attendance at eight targeted schools

· an expanded restorative justice service, promoted at a hui involving the local justice and legal community

· an Alternative Resolutions Iwi Panel being trialled through an innovative partnership between Te Runanganui O Taranaki Whanui, Wellington Restorative Justice Services and the Hutt Valley Police

· Operation Relentless which features a series of short, sharp blitzes on known drivers of crime – targets to date have included alcohol, at-risk youth and family violence.

· a Justice Sector Mobile Community Office (link to video)

“These local initiatives show a fresh approach to reducing crime and reoffending and are helping people and we’re doing this by connecting up justice sector services in the Hutt Valley,” Ministry of Justice Deputy Chief Executive Brook Barrington said.

“The Hutt Valley Justice Sector Innovation Project is a great example of local operational managers working together to deliver better public services”.

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