Ministry of Justice
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New toolkit to reduce re-offending launched in Leicestershire and Rutland
Ministers today launched a new "toolkit" from the year-long Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Demonstration Project, at the National Alliances Conference. The Conference also provided an opportunity to showcase good practice from around England and Wales in developing the reducing re-offending Alliances. The Corporate, Civic Society, and Faith and Voluntary sector Alliances, launched in November 2005, aim to make reducing re-offending everyone's business.
Minister for Justice Rt. Hon David Hanson MP, and the Rt. Hon Baroness Scotland QC, Minister of State for Crime Reduction, also welcomed the effort and dedication from those working around the country to reduce re-offending.
David Hanson said:
"Working in partnership, the National Offender Management Service, employers, civil communities, voluntary and faith sectors can better address the problems which hamper an offender's rehabilitation: education and employment, health and housing, family troubles and drug abuse.
"The toolkit we are launching today will provide just the sort of practical support that makes a real difference to work to deliver reducing re-offending at a local level and to transforming the offender into a responsible citizen.
"I am also extremely pleased to be visiting HMP Leicester and Leicestershire and Rutland Probation Service today to see the vital work carried out by staff to reduce re-offending and protect the public. It has received the accolade of being the third highest performing probation area in England and Wales this year. Good performance is not just an indication of how hard people are working. Those figures mean that individuals have received something from the Service that has made a concrete difference. A difference that will cut the likelihood of future offending."
Home Office Minister for Crime Reduction Baroness Scotland QC said:
"Crime has fallen by over a third in the last 10 years but reducing crime remains a top priority for the Government. Reducing re-offending is a key contributor to Crime Reduction. The Alliances are part of our approach to join together our partners in bringing down crime. We cannot do it alone: around half the resources that support offenders come from outside the justice system. In creating the Alliances we recognised that we need the help of everyone working together to make a difference.
"We have made significant progress in taking forward the development of the Alliances, and the cross government National and Regional Reducing Re-offending Partnership Plans under which they operate. I am grateful to everyone for their hard work and contributions to this."
The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Demonstration Project involved representatives from Leicester City Council, Leicestershire County Council, Melton Borough Council, Oadby and Wigston Borough Council, Rutland County Council, the National Offender Management Service, Probation and the Prison Services, working together in partnership to improve equality of access for offenders to mainstream local services such as accommodation and employment.
Notes to Editors
David Hanson, Minister for Justice is visiting HMP Leicester on Welford Road at 1pm to meet prison staff and have a tour of the establishment. He will then be visiting the new Leicestershire and Rutland Probation Centre in Cobden Street at 3pm which was formally opened in 2006 and nominated for a national environment award. Whilst there he will meet vital staff and see offenders carrying out unpaid work at their onsite workshop. He is available for interviews during the day.
ENDS
