Agenda item

(To receive a report by Clare Newborn (Community Safety Manager), which provides an update on the Adult Reoffending performance measure in the Council Business Plan, as requested by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board)

The Chairman welcomed Chief Inspector Pat Coates to the meeting. 

Consideration was given to a report by Chief Inspector Pat Coates, which provided an update on the Adult Reoffending performance measure in the Council Business Plan, as requested by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board; as well as providing information on the prevalence and composition of offending in Lincolnshire, and the key actions currently being undertaken to address offending in the county.

Members were informed that the reoffending rate for adult offenders in Lincolnshire had remained around 29.6% on average for the last two years. It was noted that the offence type with the largest cohort of offenders and reoffenders was shoplifting. Other offences with high reoffending rates were drug possession and public disorder.

In 2016, Lincolnshire Police had launched an Assisting Rehabilitation through Collaboration (ARC) scheme, which involved working with the most prolific offenders to address the underlying causes of their offending behaviour, in order to reduce the likelihood of further offending. Where rehabilitation was not possible, scheme users would be tackled effectively using both informal and formal powers tools.

Members were advised that ARC had seen a significant reduction in reoffending rates. It had been acknowledged that there were some gaps in the service that needed to be addressed. Lincolnshire police were looking to bridge those gaps and were working with a number of partners to improve the pathways for people leaving prison and ensure that all the relevant services were available to them.

Members were invited to ask questions, in which the following points were noted:

            Members were advised that there were a number of things that led to people committing crimes, but the majority of prolific offenders had mental health issues, drug addiction or alcoholism. Each individual case was different.

            Members felt that there needed to be more Police Officer patrol to deter people from committing crimes.

            Members were informed that evidence had suggested that shorter sentences could be more problematic as they disrupted work that was being carried out to improve mental health, addition issues and stable relationships.

            Members were advised that all efforts were made to engage with offenders in a number of ways. Assurance was provided that formal action was taken against those who were not engaging in the service.

            Members were pleased to see a report on re-offending that was specific to Lincolnshire.

            It was clarified that formal powers allowed Police Officers to arrest, charge and take offenders to court. Lincolnshire Police had the ability to use informal powers which involved the ability and opportunity to engage with offenders and with the relevant pathways through community resolution. If offenders were not engaging with the informal route, the formal powers were implemented.

            Officers recognised the need for a slightly different approach to female offenders which would be investigated as part of the task and finish group.

            It was clarified that most retail stores preferred to prosecute for offenders who had shoplifted from their stores. It was noted that most first time shoplifting offences would be dealt with through community resolutions, but for more prolific offenders court action would usually be taken.

            Members requested further information on the work of the female offender's task and finish group, once the group had completed their work.

            Officers advised that analysis into shoplifting offences had shown that stolen goods were usually not used to sustain the individual, but were stolen for resale to feed addiction or personal needs.

            It was agreed that an update on Lincolnshire's Adults Re-offending would be brought back to the committee in 6 months' time.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the report and comments made be noted;

2.    That a report be scheduled for 6 months' time to look at the progress of the adults reoffending.