Re-offending levels are lower than expected in Bradford (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Re-offending levels are lower than expected in Bradford

11:00am Tuesday 5th March 2013 in News By Jessica Nightingale, T&A Reporter

Reoffending levels in Bradford are lower than expected, according to new figures from the probation service.

In Bradford, the reoffending rate has been recorded at 8.77 per cent and 11.60 per cent lower than the predicted rate between October 1, 2011 and September 30, 2012.

A report by the Ministry of Justice looks at the work of West Yorkshire Probation Trust and shows that its rates across the county are consistently lower than predicted.

The West Yorkshire Probation Trust works in partnership with local organisations to help reduce reoffending statistics. One group, the Together Women Project, in George Street, Bradford, works to support women who have reoffended or may be at risk of offending. Rokaiya Khan, chief executive of the project, said: “I am not surprised by these figures, I’m pleased with them. It shows that the intervention and the partnerships we have formed and the work we are doing with the women is having an impact.”

The probation service works with health and housing agencies, local authorities and police to address the causes of crime.

It provides programmes and activities to tackle issues including alcohol and drug abuse, and supervises offenders in carrying out their hours of unpaid community service.

Louise Allen, a project manager in Bradford for UPwards, an initiative at the Community Service Volunteers (CSV), said: “I think the probation trust is doing an amazing job. I think there are so many factors affecting the lives of offenders. CSV and all the other agencies that work with them have helped to improve these figures. They are very encouraging.”

The CSV recruits volunteers to support offenders being released from prison and on community sentences.

Mark Siddall, director of operations at West Yorkshire Probation Trust, said: “The West Yorkshire reoffending rate is one of the lowest in England and Wales and West Yorkshire Probation is acknowledged as one of the Trusts consistently reducing reoffending.

“The purpose in supervising offenders is not simply to hold them to account for what they have done, but to bring about a positive change in behaviour. A reduction in offending is a reduction in crime – and in the number of victims of crime.

“I am delighted that our hard work is delivering real results – and that we are sustaining this.”

The overall reoffending rate in West Yorkshire is 9.64 per cent or 8.07 per cent lower than the predicted rate.

Bradford’s neighbours Kirklees and Calderdale also reflected a lower than expected reoffending rate.