Press Release

Skills for Justice “crucial” in creating a safer society, says Blunkett

18 June 2008        

On Friday 13 June, the new Sheffield headquarters of Skills for Justice were formally opened by the Rt. Hon David Blunkett MP.  To mark the event the former Home Secretary gave a speech on Justice in the UK in which he described the organisation’s role as “really crucial” in creating a safer society for all.  

Mr Blunkett said, “What happens at Skills for Justice is really crucial and I am very pleased with what is taking place.  It is absolutely vital that throughout the whole Justice system, we put training and skills at the top of the agenda.  I hope that Skills for Justice, in opening these new premises, can contribute to ensuring we have a safer and substantially more thoughtful society.  I hope that you can inspire other people to feel that their job is really important to creating a well-functioning and caring society.”

Skills for Justice employees work to help organisations within the UK Justice sector to become more efficient and effective, through the development of a variety of products, qualifications and services designed to improve workforce skills.

Mr Blunkett also said a few words about his brand new Channel 5 TV series, ‘Banged Up’, to be broadcast in the summer.  The series aims to discourage a group of young people on the verge of criminality, to take the necessary steps to steer themselves away from a life of crime.  

“I assure you that it is not a Big Brother knockabout type series,” Mr Blunkett said, before continuing,  “The Channel Five series, transmitted in July, will take a look both

at what has gone wrong, what might work in early intervention and, where needed, put things right.”

Alan Woods OBE, Chief Executive of Skills for Justice said, “We are delighted that Mr Blunkett agreed to formally open our new headquarters.  Our new premises are much better suited to our needs as an organisation, enabling us to move forward as we look to achieve our vision of becoming a leading recognised sector skills council delivering a world class skills agenda for the UK Justice sector.  In doing so, we hope to enable those organisations we work with to operate more effectively and efficiently, thereby making a real difference to society.”