Today (19 Aug), the Police and Crime Commissioner and the police service for Leicestershire enters a coalition of Police and Crime Commissioners, police services and charities led by Revolving Doors Agency who are working together to prevent young adults being pulled into the cycle of crisis and crime.
In the last year, Leicestershire police service dealt with 15,958 non-violent and petty crime such as theft and minor drug offences. Less than 9 per cent of offenders were given a meaningful diversionary or educational activity or an out of court disposal[1]. This highlights a huge missed opportunity to lift young people out of crisis and into a good life.
The Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner is ambitious to address these issues and improve the life chances for young people in the area.
There is a smarter way of dealing with repeat non-violent crime
The preventative measures taken by police and Youth Offending Teams, such as triaging into support services and restorative approaches, reduced the number of children entering the criminal justice system in the first place. However, these approaches tend to cut off sharply at the age of 18, regardless of the individual’s maturity or level of need.
There is also growing concern that those already in the criminal justice system are not being effectively dealt with. Trends are telling: the proportion of adults with a history of repeat offending is now at the highest ever level, accounting for nearly two fifths of the offending population[i].
Poverty and trauma
Evidence[ii] shows that these offences are driven by persistent poverty and profound trauma. The review[iii] published by Revolving Doors Agency today demonstrates that most local areas do not prioritise these needs in tackling repeat offending.
Today, Leicestershire PCC has announced that it will be one of six pilot areas who are partnering with Revolving Doors Agency, police and crime commissioners and police services in Humberside, South Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, West Midlands, and Cleveland. These six trailblazers will provide much needed leadership and promote innovation to support young adults away from the criminal justice system.
The local partnership will build intelligence about the local needs, foster partnership with local organisations and young people to develop a system wide approach to address trauma and poverty and support the local police and court-led diversion services.
Nathan Dick, Revolving Doors Agency said:
“We are delighted to spearhead a strong coalition that will create a once in a generation opportunity to prevent the cycle of crisis and crime.
“We know repeat low-level offending is driven by poverty, trauma and discrimination. These are crimes of despair. If we address the causes of crime, we will make communities safer and free up our police to deal with more serious, organised and violent crime.”
Lord Willy Bach, Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chair of the East Midlands Criminal Justice Board, said:
“With the right support and opportunities, young people can change their futures – failure should never be predetermined.
“This new partnership will ensure adverse childhood experiences and the barriers to success young people face are given the attention they deserve. It is critical the solutions we develop as criminal justice professionals strike at the root of the problem and help young people overcome the issues holding them back before they experience crisis.
“Through this new partnership we will use our collective voice to fight for the resources, funding and services to deliver practical and emotional support for however long is necessary for recovery.”
Ends
Media enquiries: Burcu Borysik, burcu.borysik@revolving-doors.org.uk or 07983 612 728.
NOTES TO THE EDITOR
[1] Home Office. 2020. “Outcomes Open Data Year Ending March 2020” Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-recorded-crime-open-data-tables
[i] . Ministry of Justice. 2019. ‘Offenders convicted for indictable offences by previous criminal history, year ending March 2009 to 2019’. Table Q6.1. London. Ministry of Justice.
[ii] Revolving Doors Agency. 2018. 1.800.000 Opportunities. http://www.revolving-doors.org.uk/file/2317/download?token=cS_ocem7
About Revolving Doors Agency
- Revolving Doors Agency is a national charity that aims to change systems and improve services for people ‘in the revolving door’ – i.e. people who come into repeat contact with the criminal justice system due to multiple unmet needs such as mental ill-health, poverty and traumatic life events.
- We work to create a smarter criminal justice system that makes the revolving door avoidable and escapable. We do this by working alongside national and local decision-makers. We combine lived experience insight, robust research and system knowledge to create policy and practice solutions that work.
About New Generation Policing
- New Generation Policing is delivered by Revolving Doors Agency and supported by three independent funders, the Barrow Cadbury Trust, the Esmee Fairbarn Foundation, and the Lloyds Bank Foundation. It is a three-year programme supporting police and crime commissioners and police services to develop and implement new interventions to stop young adults from being caught in the cycle of crime and crisis.
- New Generation Policing is informed by an influential group of senior leaders in policing, public health, and experts in service design and academics. The steering group members are: HMI Wendy Williams, HMICFRS; CC Mark Collins, Dyfed-Powys Police; CC Andrew Rhodes, Lancashire Constabulary; Susannah Hancock, Chief Exec APCC; Prof. Kieran McCartan, University of West of England; Prof. Huw Williams, University of Exeter; Dr Eamonn O’Moore, Public Health England; Neena Samota, St Mary’s University; Myron Rogers, Lankelly Chase Chair.
Posted on Thursday 20th August 2020