November 27, 2007: Reducing Offending

The start of consultation on a new strategic plan to reduce  reoffending has been announced by David Hanson, Minister of State for Justice.

The consultation paper seeks views from professionals working in the field on how the government can capitalise on successes to date, and continue to reduce re-offending rates. The consultation period runs until 18 February 2008. 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.

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 commented:

'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.'

NOMS 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. Regional offender managers have been asked to consider inviting representatives from:

• Local Strategic Partnerships
• Local Criminal Justice Boards
• sentencers
• Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) Strategic Boards
• Safeguarding Boards
• Drug Action Teams
• Crime and Disorder Partnerships/Community Safety Partnerships
• local authority chief executives
• third and private sector organisations
• those involved in addressing difference and diversity issues with offenders on the ground