A new report published today (20 January) shows how drug-fuelled
crime is being tackled through tough community sentences to get
offenders with addiction issues back on the straight and narrow.
The innovative approach of Intensive Supervision Courts means
offenders regularly meet with the same judge to track their
progress, face random drug testing, and have access to more
support from the Probation Service to stop reoffending.
Those who fail to comply face strict consequences including
increased drug testing or being sent to prison.
Over a third of offenders in the community have a drug problem
and this pilot is designed for offenders with addiction issues,
to tackle the drug and alcohol dependence that is fuelling their
crimes.
Despite significant addiction issues at the start of the
sentence, offenders tested negative for drugs over two thirds of
the time, and less than a quarter of offenders needed to be
sanctioned for any bad behaviour.
Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending Minister,
said:
“Drug and alcohol-driven crimes make our streets less safe.
This report shows there's a different, more effective way to stop
prolific offenders on a never-ending cycle of
crime.
“These tough, new intensive supervision sentences cuts
criminal behaviour and makes our streets safer.”
This approach has seen positive results across the world in
cutting crime, with other countries seeing a 33 per cent decrease
in further arrests compared to people on a standard sentence.
Combining many of the successful components already tested across
the world, the Ministry of Justice pilot launched in 2023 with
three courts in Liverpool, Teesside, and Birmingham. In
June 2024, a court in Bristol was added to the pilot.
Over 150 offenders across the country have now been given this
new form of sentence.
Probation staff, the judiciary and local services like drug
treatment providers have reported that offenders' drug and
alcohol use has reduced and those requiring help with their
mental health were now receiving the right support, some for the
very first time, to help cut their offending.
The latest offender statistics show that over half (55.5 per
cent) of offenders who served a prison sentence of less than 12
months went on to commit another crime within 12 months. For
those serving suspended sentence orders with requirements, the
figure was just 24 per cent.
Serving his sentence at an Intensive Supervision Court, ‘Luke'
(not his real name) discussed how this helped him understand his
offending history and made him feel like he did not need to turn
to crime in the future.
Offender Luke said:
“Being on the Intensive Supervision Court has completely
flipped my life around and given me the opportunity to be a
positive role model for my two kids and a brighter future with
potential jobs
“I had been a cannabis user since I was 11 and it has been
one the main reasons behind my offending behaviour. This
community sentence hasn't been easy but now that I have finished,
I can proudly say it's been one year and two weeks since I have
touched the drug.”
Revolving Doors, the national charity dedicated to breaking the
cycle of crime, helped provide insight for the report.
Pavan Dhaliwal, Chief Executive of Revolving Doors
said:
“What we know for sure is that prison sentences rarely work
for people caught in cycles of crisis and crime and come at a
huge financial and societal cost. The evidence shows that using
problem-solving approaches in courts and looking to address root
causes such as problematic substance use and poor mental health
are the best ways to help people turn their lives
around.
It is promising to see early results showing the pilot in
England has been able to divert people from custody and into
tailored support. We look forward to seeing how it can be widened
out into a more mainstream approach to reducing reoffending and
preventing more people becoming trapped in the revolving
door.”
Intensive Supervision courts are delivered by a multiagency team
who provide wraparound support, monitoring and treatment services
for offenders. To help equip offenders with the necessary tools
to reduce reoffending this team includes judges, court staff, the
probation service, police, treatment providers and the local
authority.
