Transcript Presentation heading goes here Sub heading goes here Date

Working in partnership to
reduce crime & re-offending in
Cardiff
Geraint Lewis
Emma Wools/Claire Irwin
Head of Employer & Partnerships
&
Business Development Managers
Wales Probation Trust
Paul Griffiths
Adviser
Jobcentre Plus, SE Wales
21 June 2012
Background
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Integrated Offender Management (IOM) is a key government priority to
reduce crime & reoffending.
Recognised as the delivery vehicle for Community Safety Partnerships
(CSPs) to meet their statutory obligations around reoffending under the
Policing & Crime Bill 2010.
Wales Probation and Association of Chief Police Officers Cymru launched
the IOM Cymru Toolkit.
A strategic and operational framework to facilitate consistent development
and delivery of IOM across Wales.
Project Bont (English translation - The Bridge Project) is the overarching
approach to reducing crime and re-offending In Cardiff.
Joint management of targeted groups of high risk offenders.
Builds on successes of existing multi agency offender management
programmes.
Provide consistent focus on a single locally defined cohort of priority
offenders.
Evolution
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Project Bont built on previous Prolific and Potential Offender (PPO)
scheme run in Cardiff.
Average 48.5% reduction in proven reconviction rates amongst this
group between 2008 and 2010.
This model is now being used as a blueprint in designing the
national IOM Cymru model and is regarded as an example of best
practice.
Expansion of Ex- offender cohort 100 PPOs to 250 IOM Cohort
offenders, commenced late 2010 and has continued throughout
2011/12.
Delivered through a multi agency, multi disciplinary co-located hub.
Hub is responsible for the administration, coordination and case
management of all IOM Cohort Offenders.
The Integrated Team
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South Wales Police.
Wales Probation Trust.
Youth Offending Service.
HM Prison.
Jobcentre Plus.
Local Authority housing.
Drug Intervention Programme (DIP) service provider.
Crime Reduction Initiative (CRI).
Based at Cardiff Probation office.
The IOM Cohort
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Group of locally defined priority offenders who are deemed to be at
highest risk of re-offending and/or likely to cause harm to their local
communities, including:
Prolific Offenders (PPOs);
Young adult offenders transferring from youth to adult services;
Serious substance misusing offenders;
Organised Crime Group (OCG)/Gang members
Non statutory prison releases (NSPR).
Primary focus offenders who commit Serious Acquisitive Crime,
namely Domestic Burglary & Street Robbery, as these remain
Cardiff’s priority crime types.
The approach
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Collaborative team work.
Primary purpose to reduce re-offending amongst IOM Group.
Sharing of information and intelligence.
Synchronized and coordinated delivery involving all agencies in an
intensive programme of support and control.
Including swift enforcement where necessary.
Jobcentre Plus Role
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One adviser seconded to Project Bont - Paul Griffiths.
Joined previous PPO project in April 2009 and evolved into Project Bont
Co-located and works as an integral part of IOM team.
Local evidence identified many ex-offenders failing to access Freshstart
process (Fast tracking of new claims to benefit on release form HMP).
Analysis suggested that gap in an individual securing (Financial) support is
a major contributor to perpetuating their criminal activities.
JCP adviser meets PPO immediately on release from prison to ensuring a
seamless transition to claiming benefits for those that require it. (This can
vary depending on circumstances).
JCP Adviser reinforces PPO’s awareness of benefit conditionality and
sanctions regime and more recently Work Programme support
Encourages compliance with DWP/JCP processes, emphasising
importance of attending planned interventions.
Dependant on PPO needs may oversee application for alignment benefit
crisis loan to cover the period until first benefit payment day.
Jobcentre Plus Role (cont’)
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All agencies are informed of when the new claim appointment is scheduled
And take steps to ensure the PPO attends their JCP appointment.
JCP IT monitored – ‘Fail to attend’ is notified to all agencies and appropriate
response determined.
Once claim taken, further monitored through processing journey, if payment
deemed at risk of not being made on due date, Benefit Centre colleagues
asked to process as a matter of priority to enable benefit to be paid.
Adviser works with PPO to ensure all future JCP appointments are met at the
PPO’s local Jobcentre, as well as resolving any further JCP related issues.
Act as foundation for additional 1:2:1 support form JCP Project Bont Adviser.
Potential employment and/or training for PPO to pursue.
Link into the dedicated Employment and Training Unit in Probation.
Local training providers and other local resources eg Cardiff Council support.
Break the re-offending cycle by placing ex – offenders in training or
employment which is meaningful to them.
Closer working ensures that any specific problems (e.g. Homelessness),
specialist provision (e.g. drug treatment programmes) or probation conditions
can be considered and taken into account when searching for suitable
opportunities.
The Results
• Project success is determined by a reduction in crime across the cohort group.
• Analysis of 2010/2011 show considerable estimated savings to the tax paying
community.
• Re- offending within the cohort group significantly reduced by 48.5%.
• Example – A prolific autocrime offender had been responsible for over 370
vehicle crimes over a 21 month period prior to inclusion on I.O.M. at a total cost
of £319,000. Following inclusion on I.O.M. the number of recorded offence
committed by the same offender fell to just one. The offenders main point of
contact during I.O.M inclusion was the Jobcentre I.O.M. adviser.
• From a Jobcentre perspective we have successfully helped 10% of the selected
cohort group overcome their barriers and 25 offenders to date have gained both
full time and short term employment positions.
• Others have just completed a variety of courses including CSCS; PTS track
safety and Asbestos Removal Training. We currently have 6 others pending start
dates.
• Another positive outcome has been the reuniting of offenders to the family unit
after securing Employment and the incentives of Working Tax Benefits.
• We are currently looking to expand our service to both to Cardiff Women’s Aid
and the Cardiff Drug Team as part of the I.O.M and Social Justice Strategy.
• Thank you for listening.
• Any questions?
Contacts:Jobcentre Plus
Geraint Lewis
Paul Griffiths
[email protected] [email protected]
Tel 029 2042 3696
Tel: 07771 387142
Wales Probation Trust
Emma Wools
[email protected]
Tel: 02920 232999