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Public order, justice and rights

The NAO rigorously scrutinises the expenditure of the Home Office and Ministry of Justice through financial and VfM audits. Our aim is to improve public service delivery and reduce the cost to society of crime and justice.

In 2008-09, the Home Office and Ministry of Justice collectively spent around £20 billion to protect public safety, through police forces, prisons, local authorities, and bodies including the UK Border Agency.

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Advice, guidance and tools

In addition to formal reports to Parliament, we also produce a range of other outputs from our financial audit and VFM work. Examples include:

Departmental Overview: A summary of the NAO's work on the Ministry of Justice 2010-2011

September 2011

This Departmental Overview is one of 17 we have produced covering our work on each major government department.

MoJ Departmental Overview 2010-2011

Departmental Overview: A summary of the NAO's work on the Home Office 2010-2011

September 2011

This Departmental Overview is one of 17 we have produced covering our work on each major government department.

Home Office Departmental Overview 2010-2011

Criminal justice landscape review

November 2010 

Under the current constitution and structure of government, there can be no single 'owner' of the criminal justice system.  The system is complex, responsibilities cross different departments and involve a wide range of delivery partners, and it involves a wide range of activities and objectives.

This 'Landscape Review' is aimed at providing an overview of recent criminal justice performance and practice. Our findings are based on the evidence that we have collected in the course of recent value for money studies, and also on the wealth of documentary evidence in the public domain. Our aim is to inform the debate on future developments in the criminal justice system and especially on how the government can achieve better services for less expenditure.

Criminal justice landscape review (PDF - 232KB)

NAO submission to review of offender learning

October 2010

This submission summarises what the National Audit Office believes to be the fundamental issues that need to be addressed to improve VFM from the low level found by our work and that of the Public Accounts Committee in two reports in 2008

NAO submission to Review of offender learning

Promoting healthy lifestyles for prisoners: A good practice guide

March 2008

This good practice guide, designed for prison officials, looks at the potential to improve prisoners' health and lifestyles.

Promoting healthier lifestyles for prisoners: a good practice guide (PDF - 1.05MB)