Agenda item

(i)            Report of the Director of Transformation and Partnerships.

(ii)          Presentation by Alan Reiss, Chief of Staff, Office of the Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner.

The Chairman introduced the Chief of Staff, Office of the Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner, Alan Reiss to give a presentation to Members in respect of the County Durham and Darlington Reducing Reoffending Group Update (for copy see file of minutes).

The Chief of Staff referred Members to a strategy on a page for the County Durham, Darlington and Cleveland Local Criminal Justice Partnership 2017-2021 and noted this fitted geographically with other services such as Heath and Courts.  The Chief of Staff explained that the strategy set out outcomes, objectives, deliverables and enabling factors.  Members were informed that a lot of work was undertaken in County Durham that was not happening elsewhere in the country and that end-to-end support in terms of rehabilitation to help reduce reoffending was better for the individuals involved.

The Committee were referred to the County Durham, Darlington and Cleveland Reducing Reoffending Strategy plan on a page 2016-2021, and were asked to note this had 3 objectives:

·         Identify those at risk of offending and ensure appropriate support is in place to break the cycle of intergenerational offending

·         Implement early intervention strategies with the aim to divert individuals from the Criminal Justice System and promote positive outcomes for victims

·         Ensure critical pathway evidence informs needs-based solutions using integrated offender management principles

The Chief of Staff noted that there were efficient pathways in order to look at underlying issues in an individual’s life, including: drug/alcohol misuse; finance; health, including mental health; family problems.  He added that in identifying need then the appropriate help and services would be made available.

Members noted in connection with restorative justice there had been a lot of good work with offenders and victims, and it was added that it could be a transformational experience.  The Chief of Staff explained that in terms of sentences and orders, these tended to look to the “harder end” of options available, though it was emphasised that all the tools available to deal with offenders were available for use where necessary.  The work included linking with the Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) and National Probation Service (NPS).

The Committee learned as regards a number of projects under the effective pathways strategic aim, including: employment pathways for offenders; a review of the pathways to desistance throughout the criminal justice system; housing; Project Beta; Universal Credit; WSA female offending; Tampon Tax Fund; and Project Alpha.

The Chief of Staff noted work in terms of the strategic aim of knowledge and skills including the awareness of partners’ roles and the role of the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), Price Waterhouse Cooper and the changes to benefits.  Members were reminded of the strategic aim of tackling intergenerational offending, with work including Family Ties, focusing on integrating the recommendations from Lord Farmer’s report from summer 2017 into the prison and custody estate in Durham and Darlington. 

Members were referred to a number of graphs showing the statistics relating to repeat offending nationally, regionally and locally and also in relation to the work of the CRC and first time entrants to the youth justice system.

The Chief of Staff reminded the Committee of Checkpoint and referred to a table setting out the effective pathways associated, noting the critical ones being mental health and alcohol and drugs issues.  Members were reminded that should an individual fail to complete their contract then they would be referred to court.

Members noted statistics in relation to: the Integrated Offender Management cohort; restorative justice; and the use and completion of sentences and orders by the CRC and NPS.

The Chief of Staff summarised by noting the key priorities were: focus on integration and collaboration of services; improving the current provision of services to offenders both in custody and the community; responding to any findings from the pathway review; increasing partnerships in terms of desistance provision; and implement the findings from the Farmer Review across the custody and prison setting.  He concluded by noting the average number of offences committed offenders was increasing for both adult and juvenile offenders and the drugs, accommodation and finances had been identified as particularly challenging pathways for offenders.

The Chairman thanked the Chief of Staff and asked Members of the Committee for their comments and questions.

Councillor L Kennedy asked as regards how many chances an offender was given in terms of failing their Checkpoint contract.  The Chief of Staff noted failure of the contract meant the individual would be then referred to court.

Mr AJ Cooke noted the main reasons identified, drugs and alcohol, finance and accommodation were not the type of issues that could be overcome in a few days, and therefore asked how long would help from partners, such as the NHS would be provided.  The Chief of Staff noted that there was a programme of 4 months of engagement with and individual and if they attended all the required sessions and did not reoffend then there would not be a prosecution.  It was added that in practice, if Navigators felt a need for more help for an individuals, then referrals could be made.  He noted that Public Health were a critical partners and in April there would be a refresh in terms of the Criminal Justice Partnership, including Housing Groups from the Local Authority areas and finance, this being more challenging working with DWP and Credit Unions.

Councillor S Iveson noted those released from prison were given £50 and asked was there any work to help those access benefits as soon as possible when leaving prison.  The Chief of Staff noted this was an issue being looked at, and was also recognised by prisons.  Offenders were not allowed access to the internet, however, Universal Credit application were dealt with via an online process.  Members noted work was ongoing in terms of working with the DWP and the Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner, Ron Hogg had raised the issue at the Ministerial Level to ensure pressure was on to try and help remedy this issue.

The Chairman asked if all path ways were engaging effectively.  The Chief of Staff noted that at a local level, working with other Local Authorities, the CRC and Probation Service and so on was easier than at a national level with Government; however, there was work ongoing to progress issues.

Councillor S Durham noted the National Reoffending Measures and that the number of offenders was decreasing, though the number of offenses was increasing.  The Chief of Staff explained that this was correct, with those that did not progress to a second offence more likely to have committed a “lower level” offence.  The Chairman noted the Committee were aware that there was a “hard core” that represented a cohort of prolific offenders and that all Members were aware of those in their areas.  The Chief of Staff noted reminded the Committee that there were 350 less Police Officers than there was 5 years ago, and reminded Members that preventing crime was a core Police role and “hotspots” were identified and that problems solving and time-limited approaches were conducted in conjunction with partners, for example in the East of the County working with colleagues from the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service in relation to a number of arson incidents.  The Chief of Staff noted that while the tone of the presentation and work may appear to be just around the offender and reoffending, a tough approach would be taken with those prolific offenders that would not engage.

Councillor J Maitland asked as regards the ability for prisoners to be able to access online services, such as the previously mentioned Universal Credit application.  The Chief of Staff noted that this was a matter for the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), adding both the Secretary for Work and pension and the MoJ had been written to in this regard.

Resolved:

That the report and presentation be noted.