Cambridgeshire scheme supporting people from reoffending shortlisted in national award

A scheme that supports people at risk from reoffending has been recognised by the Howard League for Penal Reform in their annual Community Awards.

The Offender Hub, introduced initially in Peterborough by Cambridgeshire Constabulary in partnership with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, tackles the root causes of early offending behaviour by offering conditional cautions. The conditional cautions can then help steer individuals away from criminal behaviour.

Over the year, the Constabulary has identified suitable individuals and then worked with various partner agencies, including Outside Links (part of HMP Peterborough), to help them rebuild their lives. Suitable conditions are chosen to help address underlying issues. The support programme was rolled out county-wide earlier this year.

Conditional cautions are agreed on an individual basis through a multi-agency assessment. Examples of the kind of issues where support has been made available for individuals are: housing issues, anger management, drugs or alcohol misuse, mental health issues, employment, education and training, and support for debt management.

The Offender Hub was nominated alongside five other projects in the ‘Policing and Adults’ category. This category is aimed at schemes run by police that are linked to formal or informal interventions with individuals following an arrest, providing appropriate support at the earliest stage.

Police and Crime Commissioner, Jason Ablewhite said:

“I was delighted that the Howard League, the oldest penal reform charity in the world, chose to shortlist the county’s Offender Hub project this week in its annual awards ceremony. Through the use of conditional cautions, this flagship scheme has already helped over 400 people since September 2016, helping to put a foot in the revolving door of reoffending, with all the savings to the public purse this brings.”

For more details about the awards, visit: http://howardleague.org/community-awards/2017-community-awards-winners/