- 200 more beds means closer supervision of an extra
1,700 prison leavers each year
- extra £10 million on refurbishment to bolster security
- spending on construction and renovation work to
directly support local tradespeople
- police back plans to make the public safer
Commonly known as probation hostels, approved premises (APs)
provide a temporary, yet vital base for offenders upon
release – allowing probation staff to closely monitor and
support them in the community and boosting public safety. APs
are staffed all day, every day by trained probation staff and
offenders living there are subject to night-time curfews and
regular drug and alcohol testing.
An extra 200 new bedrooms will be created by extending and
reconfiguring existing approved premises – an increase in
places of 10 per cent. By providing stable accommodation to
prison leavers, APs help lower the risk of reoffending and,
in turn, reduce crime rates.
A further £10 million will be spent on refurbishments and
security, including upgraded CCTV systems and personal alarms
for staff.
The construction and renovations will generate millions of
pounds in work this year for tradespeople across England and
Wales, from plumbers and electricians to roofers and
builders.
Prisons and Probation Minister said:
Approved Premises are vital for monitoring prison leavers -
reducing the likelihood of them reoffending and helping to
cut crime. They provide a stable base helping them access
services, find jobs and start to turn their lives around.
This extra investment in building and renovation, along
with the improvements we’re already making to prisons and
courts, will also put millions of pounds into the pockets
of local tradespeople across the country.
The plans have also been welcomed by police chiefs, who work
closely with the Probation Service to manage high-risk prison
leavers in the community.
National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for the Management of
Offenders, Chief Constable Michelle Skeer, said:
The UK has some of the most effective tools in the world to
manage offenders when they are initially released from
prison. It is a joined up effort across many services and
agencies and the police work very closely to reduce risk.
Approved Premises play a vital role in offering stability,
support and supervision that helps prevent reoffending,
which ultimately keeps the public safer.
In partnership with the local council, we are also building a
new, replacement approved premise in Southwark, which will be
open in early 2021 and house 24 prison leavers at any given
time.
Offenders will have the chance to carry out some of the
renovation work through a Handyman Scheme, helping them learn
new skills and boost their chances of finding a job. A trial
at St Catherine’s approved premises in Guildford, saw an
offender shadow local builders when they renovated its
kitchen, residents’ lounge and bedrooms. The project gave him
a new-found focus and confidence, and could inspired
offenders to seek work in construction.
The scheme follows swiftly on from plans to recruit 1,000 new
probation officers this year to further boost public
safety. Probation officer numbers are now approaching a 4
year high.
