Tonight: The Repeat Offenders
The Government has announced a “Rehabilitation Revolution” to cut crime in the UK – but can it deliver?
The Tonight programme's Fiona Foster was given access to Leeds Prison to see the work it does with short term offenders – half of whom are likely to re-offend within a year of leaving jail.
And she visits the suburb of Seacroft in East Leeds to see how its citizens are coping with crime. The stakes are high. In one month alone, the Seacroft area saw:
131 incidents of antisocial behaviour
39 burglaries
41 cases of violent crime
The local Methodist Church was targeted by burglars who broke in three times, leaving damage in every room.
The problem is how to stop those repeat offenders who are responsible for a disproportionate amount of crime. Some 75% of proven offences are committed by offenders with a previous criminal record.
Governor of Leeds Prison, Paul Baker, says the penny dropped for him when he realised that short term offenders often turn into long term offenders unless you tackle their lifestyles.
So the governor has turned part of the prison – C wing – into the resettlement wing. Here short term prisoners get support with drug addiction and education while inside jail and help with accommodation and a job upon release.
Prison warder Steve Freer works on C wing. He helps inmates get jobs by talking to potential employers about why it’s important to recruit ex-cons.
Tadge Sulich is a former Leeds inmate who found a job through C Wing and has kept out of trouble for 16 months. Tadge, who had a chequered criminal history, explains:
Prisons Minister Jeremy Wright commends Leeds for its work. Now the Government plans to roll out a new initiative called “payment by results” which will give the private and charity sector contracts to help reduce reoffending. Only if they deliver statistical reductions in repeat offending will they get paid in full.
But the Government’s critics say that if they are serious about reducing re-offending they need to reduce the prison population or increase the prisons budget.
Tonight: The Repeat Offenders is on ITV1 at 7.30pm
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