Probation, Police, NHS, Housing Association, Local College

Who is it aimed at?

Persistent offenders. Figures showed that just 4% of 'hard core' offenders were found to be committing 40% of local household burglary, thefts and car crimes on housing estates in Staffordshire. One of the participants had previously committed 155 offences and had 25 previous convictions, another had committed 100 offences and had 17 previous convictions.

How does it work?

Two prolific offender projects were set up in 1998 - one in Hanley and one in Newcastle Under Lyme. Offenders who opt to join are offered the chance to turn away from drugs and crime and are offered drug treatment and other support including job training, education and help with housing. They are subject to increased probation supervision and increased police surveillance. The aim is to turn the user into a drug user's lifestyle such as developing support networks, developing interests and also diminishing influences through a change in peer networks. Within 24 hours of joining the project, an NHS specialist drugs assesses the patients. Failure to attend follow-up appointments for treatment can mean participants being ejected from the scheme. Participants can also be asked to leave the scheme if they fail to turn up to the local college for training schemes, exercise classes at the leisure centre or participation in projects such as gardening/allotment work.

Does it work?

Independent evaluation over 30 months by criminologists from Keele University (May 2001) showed that the offenders on the Newcastle under Lyme project at the time of sample were on average 53% less likely to be re-convicted when compared to a similar group not on the scheme. Staffordshire Probation Area estimates that 3,925 crimes may have been prevented in the former coal mining estates of Newcastle under Lyme since the project started there in 1998. If these crimes had been committed the cost to victims, the criminal justice system and the taxpayer would be in the region of £5.5 million.