Levels of Reoffending 2023-02-21
2023-02-21
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question asks about the potential impact of current policies on levels of reoffending.
What assessment has been made of the potential impact of his policies on levels of reoffending?
The overall proven reoffending rate has fallen since 2010, from over 31% to less than 25%, but that is still too high, so we are making major investments in drug treatment, accommodation support, education and employment to drive it down further.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
Onward's levelling up report highlights tackling antisocial behaviour as a top priority, noting that the top 10 offenders in North Devon committed 137 offences in six months.
What steps is the Minister's Department taking to reduce reoffending and tackle antisocial behaviour?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right that antisocial behaviour is a blight. It is one of the reasons we are upping the amount of unpaid work hours available, including in Devon and Torbay probation unit. There were 37,000 hours of such work last year, and we want to increase that further. On stopping people reoffending, a number of things need to come into play to make that work, including some of the things that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State was just talking about: sustained attention on drugs, both outside prison as well as inside; and the Turnaround programme for young people on the cusp of offending.
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Q3
Direct Answer
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The charity Futures Unlocked received a £90,000 grant from the national lottery community fund for their work in rehabilitating ex-offenders.
Will the Minister join me in welcoming the £90,000 grant Futures Unlocked has received?
Yes, indeed. It really is important work across Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull. I join my hon. Friend in strongly commending John, Laura and the whole team of volunteers. I also very much welcome the news about the grant from the national lottery community fund, which will help Futures Unlocked to extend its support for ex-offenders to lead crime-free lives and help to ensure that communities are safer.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The question highlights the reduction in prisoners taking AS-level qualifications over the past decade, with one in four people in prison being care leavers.
Does the Minister agree that education is crucial to prevent reoffending? How does he address the 90% drop in AS-levels taken by prisoners?
That is a multifaceted question; I do not think I will do justice to all of it, but there were a number of very important points. The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right about care leavers. We are very conscious of the prevalence of care leavers in the system. Of course, we do not always know exactly, because it depends to some extent on self-declaration and not everybody wants to do that, so we have to be very conscious of that. I am also very conscious of people who leave the youth offending estate who may be going back into it. That is another thing we need to look at.
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Assessment & feedback
specific commitment on education and AS-levels reduction
Not Doing Justice To All Points
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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A company called LettUs Grow is introducing vertical farming at HM Prison Hewell, which can teach prisoners new skills and grow food for the prison.
Is the Minister planning to roll out this pilot to other prisons?
We are, in fact, introducing more variety of employment in prisons, but I want to see that go even further. One of the advantages of urban vertical farming is the fact that, for obvious reasons, it takes up less space than traditional farming.
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Assessment & feedback
specific commitment on rolling out initiative
Introducing More Variety But No Specific Plan
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
The question criticises the privatisation of the probation service, highlighting issues such as serious further offences and staff leaving.
Is it not time they stood aside and let Labour fix their mess?
If I may start at the end of the hon. Lady's question—no. I do not think that we will be taking lessons from the Opposition Front Benchers when it comes to clamping down on crime and standing up to criminals.
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Assessment & feedback
Not Addressing Probation Issues
Response accuracy