Please note that this report is exempt and is not available to members of the public.
Minutes:
The board was introduced to the report by hearing an example of a real life story of the issues and circumstances which can lead to adult offending and re – offending. The board was asked to take account of the cost to the various systems and services and the community costs that re-offending produces and which can be prevented. The report proposed to the board that reducing re-offending and monitoring progress should become a core part of the SCEB agenda.
The report discussed how there is a mis-match of services available for those who are statutory offenders (i.e. those under the care of probation services) and those who are non-statutory offenders and receive no support services. It was reported that one in seven on the Probation caseload currently re-offend and noted that these people were invariably not offending for the first time. It was suggested that a significant proportion of re-offending is likely to be committed by non-statutory offenders and that further work was required to confirm these assumptions. The gaps in services available and the importance of the resettlement agenda indicated the need for a time-limited, dedicated Project Manager with agency champions identified and allocated from the 7 report pathways. It was agreed that consideration be given to a pilot project to identify non-statutory offenders possibly by focusing on a couple of prisons and by examining their pathways.
The board learnt that actual investigation into reducing re-offending and a focus on resettlement was a relatively new issue despite having been part of a three-pronged approach to Prolific and Priority Offenders alongside prevention and conviction. As far as we know, only two boroughs have started any serious work on this (Tower Hamlets and Lewisham) and they are still in the process of compiling a strategy. It was suggested that Haringey should investigate further the outcomes of Tower Hamlets’ experience so far, as this work has already been running for a couple of years.
The MPA representative announced at the meeting that the London Mayor was launching a London Youth Strategy including a stream to look at young offenders. Therefore, it would be beneficial for accessing future funding that local authorities demonstrate an awareness of the resettlement issues.
The board discussed the shift to the prevention agenda by Government and the need to work early with identified families to ensure that the causes leading to offending were addressed early. In response to the challenge that further information gathering was required, it was important to keep in mind the information which would be produced by the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment; the wealth of information held by the stakeholders on the board and the research continuing on the 3 ‘diamond’ districts by the Home Office. It was also important to ensure that new research is not undertaken if data already exists.
Clarification was sought on the funding for the proposed Project Manager and it was noted that there was some Area Based Grant money earmarked and available for this project in the year 2009/10 but this was subject to overall agreement by the Cabinet at the end of January 2009.
The board acknowledged that there were significant challenges around the prison service in terms of getting timely information about when prisoners are released and where they go on release. There are also challenges in relation to achieving full engagement by all parties.
RESOLVED
i) To establish a multi – disciplinary officer group accountable to the Head of Safer Communities to co-ordinate the production of a reducing re-offending action plan. The membership to be drawn from Community Safety, DAAT, Housing, Supporting People, Probation, Court services, employment services, further education, Mental Health organisations, CAB and other pathway services as appropriate including third sector agencies such as St Giles Trust. Draft Terms of reference to be followed as set out in appendix 5 of the interleaved report.
ii) To appoint a Project Manager for a minimum of 12 months to develop the systems and protocols for the pilot for non statutory offenders and have responsibility for developing proposals for filling gaps in local pathways. To further identify gaps and make recommendations for improving the way services are delivered across the 7 pathways for statutory ex –offenders.
iii) Following the board’s consideration of the completed Reducing Re-offending Action Plan that regular reports to the board on the progress of the action plan are considered.
iv) That Mary Pilgrim, Head of Service Delivery, Probation Service, be invited to present to the board including information on borough based data on re – offending rates for statutory and non-statutory offenders. In addition, a senior representative of the London Resettlement Board should be invited to deliver a presentation on pathways for re – offenders.