November 20, 2009: Justice Secretary's Probation Visit

Justice Secretary Jack Straw saw for himself the positive results of an intensive community sentence pilot run by the probation service to cut reoffending and support safer communities in Derbyshire today.

The pilot has been running since 2008 and targets offenders who need more intensive punishments, supervision and rehabilitation for up to seven days a week. From the start of the order offenders sentenced to intensive community sentences receive intensive, structured activities such as drug programmes, Community Payback, supervision and curfew every day.

The pilot is testing what levels of punishment and support are most effective for tackling reoffending among a difficult group of persistent offenders.

Jack Straw, who met staff and offenders at the pilot, commented:

‘Prison is the right place for the most serious and violent offenders but there are currently people in prison who would be better rehabilitated in the community. Putting offenders through tough innovative community sentences may be more effective in reducing reoffending than a short spell in prison and can deliver better value for the taxpayer.'

‘Working with offenders who are close to being sent to custody is one of the hardest challenges for the Probation Service. We want to ensure magistrates have tough sentences at their disposal for difficult offenders and I can see today from the work that Derbyshire Probation are doing that we are delivering effective community sentences that benefit local people.'

‘The intensive community sentences make a positive contribution to cutting crime in Derby. I am pleased that the Ministry of Justice is supporting the development of locally-based, innovative community sentence packages that are responsive to local needs.’

The Chief Officer of Derbyshire Probation, Denise White said:

‘Derbyshire Probation is proud to be the first area to pilot this intensive order. Our experience is showing that this approach can reduce reoffending amongst those who have extensive previous convictions and a history of involvement with various parts of the criminal justice system.'

‘A number of offenders undertaking the intensive order have met with Mr Straw today. However, some who have successfully completed the sentence were not able to do so. The reason is that they have gained full-time employment. This is a major achievement and testament to the hard work of the offenders themselves, and of Derbyshire Probation staff, mentors and partner agencies who have contributed to their success.’

The projects emphasise the need for offenders to be immediately and intensively supervised, given demanding and structured activities and left in no doubt about the consequences of non-compliance. Additional funding of £13.9 million announced in 2008 has gone towards the three-year programme with pilots in seven areas around England and Wales. The testing of intensive community sentences and the provision of more rigorous non-custodial regimes were recommended as part of the response to the Carter Review published in 2007.

Projects are also running in West Yorkshire, South Wales, Dyfed Powys, Humberside, Merseyside and Manchester.