Recent Changes to London Probation service and the London CRC’s response to the gang agenda

Middlesex University Conference5th September 2014

Patsy Wollaston / Andrew Hillas

Assistant Chief Officers

Overview

• Rationale for Probation reform

• Consequences for Probation

• Priorities, key changes and responsibilities of the two new organisations

• Rationale for CRC gang work

• Specific CRC responses to gangs

• Future directions for the CRC

Rationale for Probation Reform

• Need to reduce reoffending rates • Investment and new ways of working needed to

fund rehabilitation services for all those sentenced to under 12 months custody

• Greater flexibility to do what works• More diversity of providers• Market forces drive right behaviours if rewards

are based on successful outcomes

Consequences to Probation

• Split existing probation services into two new organisations

• NPS – 7 Regions plus Wales

• CRC – 21 geographical areas

• May 31st 2014 probation trusts abolished and NPS / CRCs come into existence

Key priorities of the new organisations

• NPS – public sector civil service, key focus on protecting the public and assessing risk

• CRC – to become privately owned organisation key focus, rehabilitation of offenders and reducing reoffending

The new probation delivery model

Key ChangesNew National Public Probation Service

• In London, approx 12,000 cases • Completion of all court reports• Initial risk assessments• All MAPPA cases (community and licences)• All cases assessed as high risk of serious harm

(community sentences and licences)• Small number of public interest cases (to be

defined)

Key ChangesNew National Public Probation Service

• Responsibility for cases where risk of serious harm has escalated to ‘high’ in duration of community order or licence

• Parole Assessments• Breach and Recall decisions• Victim Liaison Service• Approved Premises• Sex Offender Treatment Programmes• Prison and Youth Offending Service

secondments

Key Changes21 Competed Package Areas (CPAs)London will be one CPA.

Each CPA will include:• Management of all medium risk and low risk

cases excluding MAPPA both in community and custody

• Prison resettlement contracts to enable ‘through the gate’ services.

• All accredited programmes excluding sex offender programmes.

Key Changes21 Contract Package Areas (CPAs)

Each CPA will include (continued):

• Integrated Offender Management.• Mentoring.• Restorative Justice.• Community Payback (in London, currently

delivered with Serco).

The London CRC Response to Gangs

• Internal case records show that 60% identified gang members in CRC

• 80% of cases transferring from the YOS are going to the CRC

• Need to develop expertise and consistency to oversee these key issues

CRC Specific Internal Responses

• Set up specialist unit to work with young adults and gang members including:

• Provide advice to internal staff

• Deliver training

• Co-working challenging cases

• Conflict resolution

• First point of contact for external agencies

CRC Specific Interventions

• Devise and implement new programmes including:

• EXIT: Intensive Alternative to Custody

• One2One BME identity programme

• Gang Screening tool

• Women screening tool

• Young persons maturity assessment (in conjunction with Birmingham university)

CRC Specific Partnership Responses

• Interagency partnership working including:

• Links with NPS

• Links with Trident and local policing around intelligence sharing

• Links with MOPAC around pan London strategic planning and response to gangs

CRC Specific Partnership Responses continued

• Links with London Prisons concerning licence conditions

• Established a third sector NGO forum which includes faith groups, local community projects and academic institutions including Middlesex University

CRC Regional Responses

• A regional approach to tackling gangs including:

• Across London borough boundaries

• Across Regional boundaries in England and Wales

• Developing multi-agency responses

Future Direction

• Increase links with health to identify mental health issues amongst gang members

• Develop wider partnership approaches to working with women associated with gangs

• Extend research and evaluation of CRC products and interventions when working with gangs, in partnership with academic institutions

Questions / Comments