Minutes:
The Panel received a presentation from Supt Kevin Weir regarding ‘Checkpoint’, a programme which aimed to reduce the number of victims of crime by reducing reoffending (for copy of slides see file of Minutes)
Checkpoint offered eligible offenders a 4-month long contract to engage as an alternative to prosecution. The contract offered interventions to address the underlying reasons why the offender committed the crime to prevent them from doing it again to somebody else. Serious offences were not be eligible for Checkpoint, nor were driving offences, cases of domestic abuse or hate crime. The Checkpoint subject was supported through the process by a specialist ‘navigator’ who completed a detailed needs assessment with them and drew up the contract.
If the offender successfully completed the contract and did not reoffend, no further action would be taken against them. If they reoffended or failed to complete the contract they would be prosecuted and the courts would be informed of the circumstances of their failure to complete the contract.
Councillor Dixon praised Checkpoint, which addressed issues of why offenders re-offended. However, there may be a public and media perception that Checkpoint was ‘going soft’ on offenders, and this may be an issue which needed addressing.
Councillor Boyes welcomed the Checkpoint programme which was aimed at keeping offenders out of the criminal justice system. Offenders often had complex drugs, drink or mental health issues and Councillor Boyes asked at what stage offenders were passed to other agencies. Supt Weir replied that the ‘navigator’ would assess what the issues of the offender might be, with experts in each discipline having signed up to the programme. The navigator would ensure the offender received appropriate support. The Chief Finance Officer added that the force’s Blue Delta system could access to various appointments systems which allowed for checks to be made that offenders kept appointments with appropriate professionals.
Councillor Foster sought reassurance around the security of IT systems used in this programme, particularly Blue Delta. The chief Finance Officer replied that every system was graded to a government standard security level.
Resolved:
That the presentation be noted and feedback be made to the Panel after 6 months to monitor progress of the Checkpoint programme.