Agenda item

In December 2010, Avon and Somerset Police launched IMPACT, which is a multi-agency Integrated Offender Management unit, which includes Police, Probation, Prisons and Drug services.  Its key focus is to stop re-offending - working together to target those offenders of most concern in a more structured and coordinated way.

The IMPACT approach was nationally recognised in the Government's green paper; ‘breaking the cycle: effective punishment, rehabilitation and sentencing of offenders'. 

This report invites the Panel to receive and ask questions of a presentation about how this scheme has progressed since 2010 and, the outcomes it has achieved.

The Panel is asked to agree that:

·  It receives and comments on a presentation setting out the key principles of this work and identifies questions for consideration

·  It examines and tests this work and its outcomes and wider impacts

·  It identifies where any further support is needed from the Council and partners

The Chairman invited Andre Langford (Avon and Somerset Police) to give an update on ‘IMPACT’.

Andre Langford said that in December 2010, Avon and Somerset Police launched IMPACT, which is a multi-agency Integrated Offender Management unit, which includes Police, Probation, Prisons and Drug services.  Its key focus is to stop re-offending - working together to target those offenders of most concern in a more structured and coordinated way. The IMPACT approach was nationally recognised in the Government's green paper; ‘breaking the cycle: effective punishment, rehabilitation and sentencing of offenders'.

Bristol, being one of our major cities, was chosen as a pilot site.  IMPACT in Bristol was established 3 years ago.  The problem that Bristol faced was really quite significant considering that there is a group of 700 prolific offenders in Bristol whilst in B&NES there is around 10% of that number.  Andre Langford said that the unit is relatively well staffed in terms of ratio to subjects/individuals involved in the scheme.

The scheme is quite challenging as it deals with most problematic people, which are prolific offenders.  Very often the success is moderate but the true rehabilitation does require time.  The scheme did however contribute towards reduction in crime in the area.  The scheme is able to provide much better support to individuals who are subject of the scheme through partnership with other agencies and organisations, such as Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services.

Currently the IMPACT office is based in Bath and there are two Police Officers, offender managers, intelligence officers and administration support dedicated to the team, with Andre Langford.  The team is working closely with two Probations Officers and Probation Team Leader. The scheme has mostly male clients.

Individuals that are involved in the scheme have to meet certain criteria in order to be included in the scheme.  It would be wrong if the scheme has increased number of clients – the purpose for the scheme would never be achieved. 

The IMPACT is very careful about the risk assessment towards the concerns of the community.  The IMPACT use traffic light measure based on risk assessment.  Red present most risk and therefore needs more immediate attention.  Amber area is the one that deserves the real attention.  It is not as big in risk as red but could easily be high risk if it is not managed properly.  Green is the lowest risk area.  The scheme is not only to watch over the offenders but also to provide the adequate support. 

The IMPACT team has regular meetings, two per month.  One is to manage offenders (discussion on individuals in the group) and one is to review where they are in terms of numbers and individuals (are they ready to transfer, did they improve, how they cope, etc).

Performance information for the district is impressive. B&NES continue to enjoy healthy crime reduction.  Over five year period reductions in theft from motor vehicle equal almost 27%, theft of motor vehicle 34%.  Some of those successes are down to IMPACT though it is difficult to measure how much IMPACT contributed to reduction of crime. 

Andre Langford read out short case study of individual who committed a number of crimes and who was drug and alcohol user from the age of 15.  In prison he realised that he has to change.  He decided to join the programme and successfully completed some courses and with the help of probation officer found the job.  He was also better with his family.  He was grateful to IMPACT. However, he was involved in robbery and sent back to the prison.  In the prison he got engaged in some other courses in a hope that he will be straight and narrow.  Andre Langford said that the reason why he turned back to crime was that he was bored; peer pressure and easy reach to alcohol and drugs led him into crime.  Andre Langford said that the recent news are that individual in question is doing well and determine to succeed in his quest to become straight and narrow.

Andre Langford concluded that this is all about the IMPACT, in broad sense, and that he welcomes questions from the panel.

The Chairman thanked Andre Langford for this update.  The Chairman said that it seems like that criminal behaviour in individuals is related to problematic families so he asked if the IMPACT had the opportunity to work with families as well as individuals.

Andre Langford said that they do work with the families but that there is much more that the team could do.  Andre Langford said that he is not directly involved in the work with families, as he is more involved in the work with individuals, but that he would be interested to work with families in near future.

The Chairman asked to what extent the IMPACT is acting as deterrent as well as support agency for individuals.

Andre Langford said that the IMPACT is always looking how to quantify the measure of success although it is not quite straight forward how to do that.  There are few meetings and seminars across the country discussing this issue and Andre Langford will network with other authorities in order to take on board their experience on this field.

Councillor Simons asked if the number of offenders changed, in relation to number of offences, since the IMPACT is in operation.  Councillor Simmons asked if the IMPACT covers Anti-Social Behaviour.

Andre Langford said that certainly there was a reduction in crime. In terms of the Anti-Social Behaviour – it is recognised as terrible problem for the community.  There is allocated Anti-Social Behaviour Team though at the present time it is not under IMPACT criteria.  If there are issue with young individuals that are not within IMPACT criteria then they will be referred to Youth Offending Team or similar.

Councillor Evans said that the best rehabilitation is passage of time since time is the best rehabilitator.  Councillor Evans thanked Andre Longford for being honest with the Panel on successful and on not so successful stories.  Councillor Evans said that he was particularly interested in the case scenario and how the individual went back to crime because he was bored (no work) and because he mentally didn't cope well so he wondered what IMPACT actually do to get people into work.

Andre Langford responded that through their contacts in employment services they can help individuals to get, like in this case, forklift truck licence.  Also work together with other partners, such as Princess trust, to provide opportunities to those individuals.

Councillor Rigby said that she would like to see how much it would cost to keep someone in prison in comparison to have the same individual outside of prison, through the IMPACT programme.

Andre Langford said it is far more expensive to keep an individual in the prison than for them to live in the community under the IMPACT watch. 

The Chairman thanked Andre Langford for the update.

It was RESOLVED to note the update.