More welfare cuts will not reduce people's dependency on the state

via JRF - Combined Feed by Helen Barnard

Cutting benefits for groups who receive little public sympathy may make for a good Conference speech, but it risks increasing poverty and hardship. And unless there is a follow up “master plan” for creating more and better jobs, massively increasing access to them and sorting out the housing crisis it's not likely to do as much as those advocating further cuts are hoping to reduce the deficit or people’s dependency on the state.

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Hazel’s comment:
Some people may find, as I did, that their blood pressure rises at the mere thought that a further £10bn can be taken from the welfare budget without dire consequences for the poorest and most vulnerable members of our society.

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Market pressures: youth justice reform in an age of austerity

an article by Harry Angel (Independent Consultant, London) published in Safer Communities Volume 10 Number 4 (2011)

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to give the author’s opinion regarding youth justice reform and austerity cuts.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper explores current policies and legislation relating to the youth criminal justice system, the role of rehabilitation, prevention and restoration.
Findings
The conclusion to this piece is that, in the opinion of the author, youth justice reform is not succeeding under the current circumstances.
Originality/value
The paper takes many aspects into consideration to support the argument, including the Independent Commission on Youth Crime, current journalism and research on the subject and popular culture references.

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