London boroughs to pilot schemes to tackle re-offending » Communities » 24dash.com

An innovative pilot with a multi agency approach to tackle the cycle of re-offending in London has been announced today by the Justice Secretary and Home Secretary.

The 'Diamond' initiative in London, inspired by 'Million Dollar Blocks' in the USA, is one of five Integrated Offender Management projects that will be developed across the country.

In London, it will aim to break the cycle of re-offending by targeting resettlement resources in neighbourhoods which would benefit most from this approach.

The three boroughs testing the new approach are Lambeth, Newham and Lewisham which will allow London police and probation, in partnership with local authorities, to focus on a wide range of offenders, including those who have been punished in prison but are not subject to subsequent supervision.

Each borough will receive new police and probation staff to carry out this necessary work.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw said: "We have a duty to ensure that we provide punishments and reforms which are effective in both cutting re-offending and in how we use taxpayer's money.

"These projects are testing a new joint working approach for repeat offenders when it's judged they will respond to positive assistance to stop offending, backed up by swift enforcement measures if they do not comply, such as police helping to enforce community sentences where necessary.

"We are investing in community based resources today to reduce crime and criminal justice system costs in the future, therefore using tax payer's money more effectively.

"Securing a safer society requires more than the operation of the law-enforcement agencies and the criminal justice system. We have the support and commitment of partners in the public, private and voluntary sector to help in our work to protect the public, punish offenders and reduce re-offending."

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "I am committed to tackling crime and building on the success we have had in reducing crime by a third in the last ten years.

"We know effective joint working between the police, probation, prisons and other agencies can make a real difference in cutting crime and re-offending.

"This has been demonstrated in the achievements of programmes such as the Prolific and Priority Offenders scheme and the Drug Interventions Programme.

"I welcome the piloting of a new Integrated Offender Management approach.  It will mean increased support and supervision of offenders, with resettlement resources targeted on those neighbourhoods with the greatest need.  It will be backed up by swift enforcement measures with the aim of making these communities safer for everyone."

The Government has also confirmed that Nottinghamshire, Lancashire, West Yorkshire and the West Midlands are being developed as Integrated Offender Management pioneer areas.

Complementing existing successful partnership work between police, probation and other organisations, Integrated Offender Management strengthens and extends police and probation's ability to reduce re-offending and cut crime.

The Attorney General said: "As Champion of the London Criminal Justice Board and Chair of its Ministerial Steering Group I am excited by this new initiative as it reinforces our commitment to reducing re-offending, and delivering safer communities across the Capital where people feel safe in every aspect of their lives.

"This is an important step for the London Criminal Justice Board as it undertakes a programme of reform and change which will deliver a quicker and simpler criminal justice system that supports Londoners and builds on existing regeneration work."

Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: "I have made it clear that tackling crime is one of my top priorities. 

"In order to do this, we need both assertive and immediate police measures such as Operation Blunt 2, as well as measures to tackle the long-term complex root causes of crime.

"This scheme to break the cycle of re-offending will not only give offenders the help and support they need, but also involve communities in practical solutions in their local areas to tackle crime and make them feel safer as a result."