Criminals could be barred from socialising as alternative to jail

Criminals could be banned from pubs, sports grounds and social events under proposals being considered as alternatives to prison, a minister has said.

- Rajeev Syal Emily Dugan

Sarah Sackman, the courts minister, told the Guardian that such exclusions, as well as mandatory work for offenders, were "very much part of the mix" under a review of sentencing conducted by the former Conservative justice minister David Gauke.

Asked about proposals from the Bar Council to prevent offenders from attending social events, Sackman said they were under consideration.

"The Leveson review [into criminal courts] is running alongside David Gauke's review into sentencing, which is looking at the issue of prisons, at the question of punishment outside of prisons, and how we reduce reoffending. The sorts of suggestions that you refer to are very much part of the mix," she said.

"Do we need to make mandatory work part of the picture? All of that will be considered by David Gauke's sentencing review."