“IS the system broken?” – this is a question to be discussed by Avon and Somerset Police in an annual lecture next week.

Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Sue Mountstevens and Chief Constable (CC) Andy Marsh will host a discussion on breaking the cycle of crime and punishment, and local people are invited to attend.

Issues to be discussed include views on punishing offenders, protecting the public, reducing reoffending and creating more effective collaboration.

The event is being hosted at the Bristol Festival of Ideas in the University of Bristol Wills Memorial Building on Wednesday, April 19 between 6pm and 8.30pm.

PCC Sue Mountstevens said that she is "delighted" to speak about what can be done to ensure people do not go back into prison upon release.

She said: “Over 80,000 people are in prison in the UK and almost half of all prisoners re-offend within a year of leaving.

"The purpose of every prison should be that each prisoner which is released is less likely to commit offences when they come out.

“I believe we should be doing all we can to ensure that people do not go back to prison."

She added: “I am incredibly passionate about this topic. Being a magistrate for 15 years and working on the board of Bristol Prison, I’ve witnessed and heard many things that make me feel compelled to challenge, support and reform so that we can ultimately break the cycle of crime.”

Chief Constable Andy Marsh will also discuss the Constabulary’s future of crime research work and how the use of ‘big data’ can help to identify patterns in the way criminals behave and to prevent the crime happening in the first place.

Questions that have been submitted by the audience will also be discussed by Andy Marsh and Sue Mountstevens, as a part of a panel.

The event is free but booking is required and you can get your ticket here. You will also be asked if you would like to submit any questions in advance of the session.