Clinks appoints new chair

Clinks has announced the appointment of Dame Anne Owers as its new chair. She will take up the post in January 2011.

Dame Anne Owers is prominent across the Criminal Justice System of England & Wales for her role as HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (2001-2010) and as a committed human rights campaigner.

Clinks is a charity which supports, promotes and represents the Voluntary and Community Sector working with offenders in England and Wales and has an income of £910,000.

It aims to ensure the sector and all those with whom it works, are informed and engaged in order to transform the lives of offenders and their communities.

Owers commented: “At the moment there is a real opportunity to safely bring down the prison population, improve resettlement outcomes and strengthen community punishments. A strong Voluntary and Community Sector will be crucial in this, as it provides the foundation that many offenders and their families depend on to rebuild their lives.

"The sector plays a vital role for individuals and society - not just offering services, but also providing vision, innovation and hope. But these are challenging times and we need to ensure the sector is confident and well supported.

"I worked for 25 years in the sector before I was appointed chief inspector and so I am delighted to be involved with Clinks, given its role in supporting the whole sector working in the Criminal Justice System."

Clinks' director, Clive Martin added: “Our trustees and members are delighted that Anne will be bringing her many skills to Clinks and the wider Voluntary and Community Sector working with offenders.

"The coalition government has provided opportunities to reduce prison numbers and find more positive ways of dealing with crime, such as Restorative Justice and the notion of Big Society.

"The Voluntary and Community Sector has a wealth of experience and knowledge to ensure the 'rehabilitation revolution' works for the benefit of us all. Anne's respected and consistent arguments for a better way of doing things will help us create the step change needed to achieve that. It's wonderful news.”