27 November 2007
David Hanson MP, Minister of State for Justice, today announced the start of consultation on a new strategic plan to reduce reoffending.
The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) held a national event to launch a period of discussion with local, regional, and national partners about what needs to be done during the next three years to bring down the number of crimes committed by known offenders.
David Hanson said:
'Reoffending causes real harm to individuals, to communities, and to the economy.
'The government has undertaken a successful programme of work to tackle reoffending since 1997. The most recent figures available, from 2004, show a 5.8% reduction in adult reoffending against the predicted rate since 2000.
'But there is still more work to do to examine what other measures need to be in place to support offender management.
'Therefore, I am today announcing the publication of a consultation document to inform the Strategic Plan for Reducing Re-Offending from 2008-11.'
In recognition of that fact that cooperation between agencies is essential in successfully tackling reoffending this event also launched the Department of Health's consultation, 'Improving Health, Supporting Justice', which is focusing on how offender health issues are managed.
The National Offender Management Service also launched a Third Sector Action Plan to build the contribution of the voluntary sector, and a Faith Alliance consultation paper looking at the role of faith-based organisations in reducing reoffending.
Notes to editors
1. Copies of the consultation document and the response form are available online at: http://www.noms.justice.gov.uk/news-publications-events/publications/consultations/RRSP_2008-2011/
2. The consultation paper seeks views from professionals working in the field on how the government can capitalise on the successes to date, and continue to reduce re-offending rates. The consultation period runs from today until 18 February 2008.
3. Consultation events for partners in the regions and in Wales will be held in December and January. Regional offender managers have been asked to consider inviting representatives from:
- Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs)
- Local Criminal Justice Boards (LCJBs)
- sentencers
- Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) Strategic Boards
- Safeguarding Boards (we want to promote our agenda to Directors of Children's Services)
- Drug Action Teams (DATs)
- Crime and Disorder Partnerships/Community Safety Partnerships (CDRPs/CSPs)
- local authority chief executives
- third and private sector organisations
- those involved in addressing difference and diversity issues with offenders on the ground
4. From April 2008, a number of new Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets will be introduced. The 'Make Communities Safer' PSA includes a specific measure for reducing reoffending which focuses on the volume and seriousness of reoffending. This will allow us to monitor the success of our interventions with priority offender groups more closely, and reflect the impact reducing reoffending has on overall crime rates. Other PSAs are also critical specifically 'Reducing the Harm Caused by Alcohol and Drugs, Socially Excluded Adults', and 'Young People: A Path to Success'. Each of these national agreements will act as levers to further embed the reducing re-offending agenda across government, and at regional levels to support effective local delivery by partners.
5. Responses to this consultation will be used by the government to shape and develop its new Strategic Plan for Reducing Re-Offending 2008-11. This will be published in spring 2008.