13 May 2008
A fresh drive to increase the number of organisations involved in employing former prisoners and cutting reoffending was launched today by Prisons Minister David Hanson MP and David Lammy MP, Under Parliamentary Secretary for Skills.
The forum brings together private, voluntary and public sector organisations, many of whom already provide employment for offenders in custody and the community, to increase the range of constructive work available for offenders inside prison, and in turn their job opportunities on the outside.
This forum fulfils an earlier commitment by ministers to reduce reoffending by working with employers to provide prisoners with the skills they need to get jobs. Employment can bring stability to offenders who have previously led chaotic lifestyles. Many have never worked before going into custody and need help to develop their basic skills and to experience a working day.
The forum was announced in the prison policy update paper, which was published in January.
David Hanson MP said:
'Getting offenders into employment is a key means of reducing reoffending and enabling former prisoners to make a positive contribution to society. Our aim is to work in partnership with the private, voluntary and public sectors, to provide employers with a motivated and trained workforce, and improve offenders' abilities to get a job and lead law-abiding lives on release. That means there will be fewer future victims of crime.'
David Lammy MP said:
'In World Class Skills we set out the need to address the skill needs of all our people to unlock their talent. Offenders particularly need our help to get skills to improve their chances of getting work. This will help them improve their lives and to reduce crime in the communities in which they live. Employers are very important to ensuring skills match the jobs offenders will go on to do.'
Notes for editors
The prison policy update paper was published on 31 January 2008.