COSLA Spokesperson Appointed To The Board Of The Scottish Prison Service

Councillor Eric Jackson COSLA’s Social Work and Health Improvement Spokesperson has been appointed to the Board of the Scottish Prison Service.

Councillor Jackson is the first ever Councillor to be given such a position and his appointment is a tribute to the expertise he has in the Scottish Criminal Justice system.

Commenting on his new role Councillor Jackson said:
“My appointment will allow for a local government perspective to be brought to Board issues in support of partnership working and our shared agenda, and to inform local government developments with the SPS perspective.

“It is a time of significant change within criminal justice and the public sector and there are a range of shared agenda issues for SPS/local government including: development of the Community Justice Authorities, management of offenders, public sector reform, sentencing, extension of home leave scheme, proposals for managed sentencing (part custody/part community), accommodation arrangements for sex offenders leaving prison, and integrated case management.”

Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the SPS added:
“I am delighted to welcome Eric Jackson as a non- executive Director of SPS. We fully recognise the need to work in close partnership with our colleagues in local government and I am convinced that the perspective and experience that Eric will bring to his role in SPS will be of tremendous value to all of us.

“This is a period of transition for all of us, we share a common commitment to helping create safer communities for the people of Scotland and I am confident that Eric will play a key role in helping us develop the effective working partnerships which will be critical for the success of the new CJAs.”