West Yorkshire Police Crime Commissioner launches project designed to tackle re-offending rates

A new project has been launched by West Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner designed to prevent re-offending by gaining more information from people in the criminal justice system.

Mark Burns-Williamson commissioned charity User Voice to speak to people in prison and on probation to try to understand what more can be done to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.

User Voice is a charity led and run by people with experience of the criminal justice system

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They have been speaking to adults and those in youth offending teams to understand their views and experiences.

Mark Burns-WilliamsonMark Burns-Williamson
Mark Burns-Williamson

Through these conversations they have arrived at a set of key recommendations to help reduce re-offending and make sure the criminal justice system works better for communities.

Although started before the COVID-19 pandemic, the charity says the issues arising are more pressing than ever.

The project set out to understand why people commit crime, what support services are in place to address this, how effective they are and what could be done differently.

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Addiction, mental health, housing and education were found to be crucial areas for further work and support.

One offender who contributed to the report, said: “If you’re an addict and you want to get clean, you want to get clean there and then. You don’t want to get clean in two months’ time.”

Another said: “The only time you will see a mental health worker is if you’ve self-harmed or you’ve tried killing yourself.”

Others told of their experiences of being placed in a hostel surrounded by drugs and the lack of opportunities available upon being released from custody.

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The findings of the report have been shared with partners across the criminal justice sector in the hope of finding joint solutions to the issues raised and improve services overall.

Work has already begun on a number of projects such as developing a training package for those in prison, working with supported housing providers to accommodate more complex needs, as well as further support for mental health and addiction.

According to Government figures in July this year, adults released from custodial sentences of less than 12 months re-offend at a rate of 62.7 per cent.

In the UK adults re-offend at a rate of 28 per cent. Juvenile’s re-offend at a rate of 39.2 per cent.

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Mr Burns-Williamson said: “Tackling crime and anti-social behaviour is a core outcome in my Police and Crime Plan for West Yorkshire.”

“Robust law enforcement will always rightfully have its place in taking action where necessary, but if we can reduce re-offending, and even beyond that, stop crime and anti-social behaviour from happening in the first place then everyone benefits.

“I am pleased with the findings of the report which has identified some key areas of work to take forward with our partners in policing, local authorities, voluntary/third sector and criminal justice agencies.

"I am already sharing these results and will continue to champion the changes needed going forward.

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“My thanks and appreciation to User Voice for their invaluable work on this project which I am sure will make a difference not just on paper, but in our communities, changing lives for the better and helping to keep people safe.”

Mark Johnson MBE, founder of User Voice , said: “It is not always easy empowering some of the most marginalised groups in society.

"User Voice has demonstrated that giving people in prison and on probation a voice using its lived experience approach can have significant results.

“This is the first time it has been used by a Police and Crime Commissioner and so I commend the Mark Burns-Williamson for embracing this innovative approach.

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“If people who are at the sharp end of the system, prisoners and people on probation, are not equipped to lead successful lives then we will never reduce re-offending.

"How people are treated has a direct impact on how they behave.

“Consultations such as this create an environment based on responsibility, tolerance, decency, courtesy and humanity. This is all in support of the notion of making good citizens and promotes our fundamental belief that: it’s the people in the system who have the answers.

“Now the hard work begins in taking people’s insight and turning into action.”

To download the report and find out more visit www.uservoice.org/reducingre-offending