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Probation

Volume 496: debated on Wednesday 16 September 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of offenders under probation supervision were (a) in employment and (b) living in settled and suitable accommodation at the end of their order or licence (i) in total and (ii) in each of the smallest geographical areas for which figures are available in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement. (291189)

The figures requested are available for 2008-09 and 2009-10 only and are shown in tables.

Employment is known to be a key factor in helping to reduce re-offending. The Government’s aim therefore is to improve the quantity and quality of offender learning to provide more offenders with the skills and motivation to turn away from crime, improve their employability, and become productive members of society.

NOMS is actively engaging with employers to create employment opportunities for offenders both in prison and on release. The Government are committed to expanding this programme significantly.

The Government recognise the contribution that having a stable home makes to the rehabilitation of offenders and the reduction of re-offending. The National Offender Management Service is working in partnership with other Government Departments, local authorities and housing providers to deliver public service agreement (PSA) 16, which includes a commitment to raising the proportion of offenders under the supervision of the probation service that are in suitable and stable accommodation at the end of their supervision.

Performance against employment targets in 2009-10 has shown a decline compared to 2008-09, but this must be seen in the context of the economic downturn. The current economic climate has exacerbated the disadvantages already faced by offenders in the jobs market. However, we remain committed to maximising employment opportunities for offenders and we are working with probation areas to ensure they retain their focus on performance.

Table 1: Offenders in employment at termination of order/licence 2008-09

Probation area

Number of offenders in employment

Number of terminations (orders and licences)

Percentage in employment

Target (percentage)

Avon and Somerset

713

1,714

42

40

Bedfordshire

405

781

52

40

Cambridgeshire

276

543

51

40

Cheshire

666

1,389

48

40

Cumbria

325

639

51

40

Derbyshire

595

1,259

47

40

Devon and Cornwall

627

1,518

41

40

Dorset

449

879

51

42

Durham

534

1,175

45

40

Dyfed Powys

313

668

47

40

Essex

1,040

1,963

53

40

Gloucestershire

568

1,180

48

40

Greater Manchester

2,856

6,670

43

40

Gwent

404

914

44

40

Hampshire

1,105

2,239

49o

40

Hertfordshire

666

1,153

58

40

Humberside

717

1,725

42

40

Kent

1,198

2,466

49

40

Lancashire

1,175

2,713

43

40

Leicestershire

829

1,633

51

40

Lincolnshire

397

777

51

40

London

3,015

7,896

38

40

Merseyside

1,001

2,713

37

40

Norfolk

270

738

37

40

North Wales

335

730

46

40

North Yorkshire

429

817

53

40

Northamptonshire

412

838

49

40

Northumbria

780

1,809

43

40

Nottinghamshire

672

1,690

40

40

South Wales

511

1,551

33

40

South Yorkshire

756

1,944

39

40

Staffordshire

818

1,658

49

40

Suffolk

334

732

46

40

Surrey

469

850

55

40

Sussex

865

1,773

49

40

Teesside

423

1,363

31

40

Thames Valley

1,170

2,183

54

40

Warwickshire

335

663

51

40

West Mercia

663

1,359

49

40

West Midlands

2,205

5,518

40

40

West Yorkshire

1,218

2,782

44

40

Wiltshire

365

685

53

45

National total

32,904

74,290

44

40

Table 2: Offenders in employment at termination of order/licence 2009-10 (April-July)

Probation area

Number of offenders in employment

Number of terminations (orders and licences)

Percentage in employment

Target (percentage)

Avon and Somerset

214

584

37

40

Bedfordshire

108

227

48

46

Cambridgeshire

94

236

40

46

Cheshire

145

376

39

50

Cumbria

81

197

41

50

Derbyshire

161

409

39

42

Devon and Cornwall

161

385

42

40

Dorset

94

254

37

40

Durham

152

385

39

40

Dyfed Powys

61

174

35

40

Essex

265

569

47

43

Gloucestershire

112

253

44

40

Greater Manchester

1,006

2,630

38

40

Gwent

111

310

36

40

Hampshire

361

823

44

45

Hertfordshire

207

416

50

46

Humberside

179

549

33

40

Kent

260

691

38

50

Lancashire

340

888

38

42

Leicestershire

192

440

44

42

Lincolnshire

84

209

40

46

London

1,298

3,861

34

40

Merseyside

249

802

31

40

Norfolk

69

217

32

40

North Wales

101

280

36

40

North Yorkshire

104

235

44

40

Northamptonshire

137

290

47

42

Northumbria

313

862

36

40

Nottinghamshire

200

513

39

40

South Wales

186

535

35

40

South Yorkshire

205

609

34

40

Staffordshire

215

511

42

45

Suffolk

88

218

40

40

Surrey

140

258

54

40

Sussex

186

438

42

40

Teesside

95

400

24

40

Thames Valley

278

615

45

45

Warwickshire

99

238

42

45

West Mercia

192

482

40

40

West Midlands

736

2,156

34

40

West Yorkshire

379

1,044

36

40

Wiltshire

79

174

45

40

National total

9,737

25,743

38

42

Table 3: Offenders in settled and suitable accommodation at termination of order/licence 2008-09

Probation area

Number of offenders in settled and suitable accommodation at termination

Number of terminations of orders and licences

Percentage in settled and suitable accommodation

Target (percentage)

Avon and Somerset

1,495

2,044

73

70

Bedfordshire

729

898

81

75

Cambridgeshire

518

642

81

76

Cheshire

1,314

1,643

80

70

Cumbria

704

837

84

70

Derbyshire

1,256

1,510

83

70

Devon and Cornwall

1,381

1,859

74

70

Dorset

810

1,055

77

70

Durham

1,293

1,554

83

80

Dyfed Powys

648

813

80

80

Essex

1,823

2,314

79

75

Gloucestershire

1,028

1,387

74

70

Greater Manchester

6,597

8,430

78

70

Gwent

859

1,108

78

75

Hampshire

2,036

2,695

76

70

Hertfordshire

1,064

1,332

80

76

Humberside

1,581

2,028

78

70

Kent

2,194

2,850

77

70

Lancashire

2,664

3,342

80

70

Leicestershire

1,523

1,848

82

70

Lincolnshire

778

946

82

70

London

6,089

8,599

71

70

Merseyside

2,704

3,327

81

70

Norfolk

677

893

76

70

North Wales

704

915

77

75

North Yorkshire

720

937

77

70

Northamptonshire

741

950

78

70

Northumbria

2,062

2,494

83

82

Nottinghamshire

1,658

2,072

80

70

South Wales

1,494

2,050

73

70

South Yorkshire

1,833

2,340

78

70

Staffordshire

1,629

2,069

79

70

Suffolk

677

851

80

72

Surrey

772

970

80

74

Sussex

1,661

2,203

75

70

Teesside

1,279

1,659

77

80

Thames Valley

1,944

2,514

77

70

Warwickshire

591

750

79

70

West Mercia

1,229

1,562

79

70

West Midlands

4,854

6,169

79

70

West Yorkshire

2,556

3,223

79

70

Wiltshire

651

821

79

70

National total

68,820

88,503

78

71

Table 4: Offenders in settled and suitable accommodation at termination of order/licence 2009-10 (April-July)

Probation area

Number of offenders in settled and suitable accommodation at termination

Number of terminations of orders and licences

Percentage in settled and suitable accommodation

Target (percentage)

Avon and Somerset

479

692

69

71

Bedfordshire

224

260

86

77

Cambridgeshire

208

280

74

77

Cheshire

359

444

81

75

Cumbria

200

243

82

75

Derbyshire

450

524

86

80

Devon and Cornwall

374

497

75

70

Dorset

254

324

78

75

(Durham

431

525

82

82

Dyfed Powys

165

219

75

80

Essex

557

687

81

77

Gloucestershire

245

319

77

73

Greater Manchester

2,654

3,347

79

75

Gwent

310

404

77

75

Hampshire

792

1,000

79

70

Hertfordshire

369

469

79

76

Humberside

510

631

81

73

Kent

611

826

74

70

Lancashire

877

1,095

80

75

Leicestershire

437

504

87

80

Lincolnshire

199

253

79

80

London

2,978

4,247

70

70

Merseyside

820

1,011

81

80

Norfolk

216

272

79

73

North Wales

246

341

72

75

North Yorkshire

218

271

80

73

Northamptonshire

275

325

85

75

Northumbria

951

1,178

81

83

Nottinghamshire

536

673

80

76

South Wales

611

776

79

70

South Yorkshire

549

725

76

75

Staffordshire

529

636

83

75

Suffolk

196

252

78

77

Surrey

256

303

84

75

Sussex

416

546

76

75

Teesside

376

491

77

81

Thames Valley

548

719

76

70

Warwickshire

205

276

74

75

West Mercia

465

563

83

75

West Midlands

1,884

2,431

77

75

West Yorkshire

948

1,207

79

75

Wiltshire

182

211

86

74

National total

24,110

30,997

78

75