Police and Crime Commissioners Generation 2.0 How you can work with the voluntary sector to cut crime How you can work with the voluntary sector to cut crime

About Clinks About Revolving Doors Agency Clinks is the national umbrella body for voluntary Revolving Doors Agency is a charity working to change sector organisations that work with offenders systems and improve services for people who face 2016-2020 and their families. We have over 600 member multiple and complex needs and come into repeated organisations, of all sizes, delivering services in contact with the police and Criminal Justice System. local communities to transform offenders’ lives and promote desistance from crime. Our vision Through their First Generation Project with the is of a vibrant and independent sector working Transition to Adulthood Alliance, Revolving Doors Your priorities with informed and engaged communities to Agency have worked with PCCs across the country enable the rehabilitation of offenders. – raising awareness of the particular problems faced by young adults (18-25) and ‘revolving door’ Our sector has an important contribution to offenders; sharing evidence of effective policy make to community safety. Voluntary sector solutions; and highlighting examples of promising organisations have been working in their local practice among PCCs through a series of briefings for cutting communities for many years, providing expert and publications. For further information, see interventions that work to cut crime. They are a key www.revolving-doors.org.uk/policy--research/ partner for PCCs in the development and delivery policy-projects/first-generation-project of local services, as well as a critical friend when decisions that affect their service users are made. We believe people who have personal experience crime and of multiple and complex problems are experts Clinks has worked with the since through experience. Our national and regional the PCC role was first created, to help facilitate Service User Forums bring together people who this important relationship. This included through have personal experience of multiple and complex the Safer Future Communities project, which problems, including poor mental health, drug and supported local networks of voluntary organisations alcohol problems and contact with the Criminal improving to engage with the new structures as they first Justice System. They work to influence policy took shape. In some areas these local networks and improve services locally and nationally. continue to operate and work alongside PCCs. The T2A Alliance The T2A Alliance is a broad coalition of organisations, which evidences and promotes the need for community a distinct and radically different approach to young adults (18-24 year olds) in the transition to adulthood throughout the criminal justice process.

Convened by the Barrow Cadbury Trust, its safety membership of 13 organisations includes leading criminal justice, health and youth organisations: Addaction, BTEG, Catch 22, Centre for Crime and In the run up to the 2016 Police There are several ways in which PCCs and local Justice Studies (CCJS), Clinks, Criminal Justice and Crime Commissioner (PCC) structures that govern policing and community Alliance (CJA), Howard League for Penal Reform, Nacro, safety can work better with the voluntary elections, in the context of further the Prince’s Trust, , Revolving Doors sector, to the benefit of communities. Agency, the Young Foundation and Young Minds. potential local devolution of the justice system in England and This briefing outlines the key areas and activities national devolution in Wales, Clinks which we believe PCC candidates should prioritise in their election manifesto and police and Revolving Doors Agency believe and crime plan once elected. Throughout the that working with the voluntary document we provide examples of how some sector is key to cutting crime. current PCCs have responded to these issues. How you can work with the voluntary sector to cut crime How you can work with the voluntary sector to cut crime Take the lead in Exemplify best engaging the practice in voluntary sector commissioning

There have been many changes in community In a time of austerity PCCs joining up safety and criminal justice over the last few years, West Yorkshire PCC with local partners and harnessing the Avon and Somerset PCC beginning with the creation of PCCs themselves. value of the voluntary sector can improve Voluntary sector commissioning practice and outcomes. Commissioning and The Transforming Rehabilitation changes to probation advisor model grants strategy have introduced new providers, as well as new The knowledge and expertise the voluntary sector funding arrangement which include an element of In West Yorkshire, PCC Mark Burns-Williamson holds is invaluable to commissioners and should Avon & Somerset’s PCC has committed to payment by results (PbR). Meanwhile, local authorities initially invested £5,000 in the Safer Future be utilised in not just the delivery of services working with a wide range of partners and retain responsibility for related activity such as Communities Network led by Voluntary Action but the whole commissioning cycle; it can help other agencies to support her in delivering her Troubled Families, and they and local health bodies Leeds (VAL). With this funding, VAL led the PCCs and other commissioners to assess needs, priorities. The Avon and Somerset Office of – such as clinical commissioning groups and local development of a Third Sector Advisory Group identify priorities, design and deliver services, the PCC’s (OPCC) approach to commissioning authority public health teams – also have obligations that reflected a wide range of sector interests measure outcomes and review impact. services and community outcomes is set out to meet offenders’ health and social care needs. – including from different specialisms and in its 2015 Commissioning and Grants Strategy. a geographical spread across the area. The However voluntary sector organisations, particularly It emphasises commissioning should be needs Voluntary sector organisations can help all these Advisory Group reports to the PCC’s Annual small and local ones, can often be disadvantaged and evidence led and that partnership working bodies achieve their aims but face major challenges Third Sector Conference. The sector was also in tendering and procurement processes. and co-commissioning are fundamental. The in engaging at all these different levels. PCCs allocated a place on the PCCs Partnership OPCC values the expertise of the market and have the power and influence to bring partners Executive Group. Following this, at the end PCCs should take the lead locally in joining up will develop services through co-production. together, but also to build the capacity of the of January 2014, a VAL staff member went with other commissioners and setting an example The Strategy includes a strong emphasis local voluntary sector to engage with them all. on secondment for one year to the Office by involving the voluntary sector in all aspects of on outcomes and impact and states the of the PCC as its Third Sector Adviser. This commissioning. This might include, for example, OPCC’s commitment to the standards in the PCCs should take the lead on developing structures has since become a mainstream post. ensuring fair and transparent processes for Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012. to facilitate strategic engagement between statutory From this a model of partnership working procurement – including consideration of contract The OPCC has a dedicated voluntary sector agencies and the local voluntary sector. Doing this between the PCC and the voluntary sector size, whether a contract or a grant would be the officer who acts as a point of contact for can help PCCs fulfil their community safety and has emerged which has been beneficial to most appropriate commissioning model, and organisations to get in touch with. The OPCC has criminal justice duties to work with other statutory both. The sector has taken a leading role consideration of social value in funding decisions. actively engaged the local VCSE with regard to bodies, as well as their duty to engage with victims in the development of services for victims commissioning, putting on numerous workshops and members of the public. This could be through and offenders. It has also contributed to the and presentations to outline their commissioning supporting a local organisation to coordinate a approach taken to commissioning, and especially aims and intentions. The OPCC team wanted to voluntary sector network, by chairing a forum to equality impact assessments. An annual grants support the sector as much as possible within of statutory, private and voluntary organisations programme was launched (now worth more than the perimeters of commissioning, stimulating providing criminal justice and community safety £1m in total) from which hundreds of community the market so that even small organisations services or even by seconding a member of staff groups have benefited. The role of the sector were included and informed. This work was from the voluntary sector into the PCC’s office to act is prominent in the police and crime plan. The made possible through strong links with the as a single point of contact with the voluntary sector. work of the PCC and VAL was recognised in local Council for Voluntary Service and their the Compact Awards in November 2014. existing relationship with the voluntary sector. How you can work with the voluntary sector to cut crime How you can work with the voluntary sector to cut crime Cutting crime Recognise the means reducing importance reoffending of race

Supporting offenders to desist from crime is not Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) just a job for prisons and probation. PCCs also Norfolk PCC people are over represented at every stage Nottinghamshire PCC have a clear interest in reducing reoffending of the Criminal Justice System, from stop as part of their overall mission to cut crime. Co-ordinating a and search to the prison population. BAME Independent county-wide approach Advisory Group Desistance is not a one-off event. It often involves In January 2016 the Prime Minister asked moving in and out of offending before stopping to rehabilitation David Lammy MP to conduct a review of racial Shortly after taking office in January 2013 altogether, and is different for each individual. Norfolk PCC has brought together a range bias and BAME representation in the Criminal Nottinghamshire PCC Paddy Tipping There are many factors that positively support of local partners through establishing a Justice System which will report in 2017. commissioned research, ‘Exploring Police desistance from crime, including employment, Strategic Board for the Rehabilitation of Experiences’, to help determine how housing, improved health and well-being, Offenders, including key criminal justice, Voluntary sector organisations based within improvements could be made to improve better family relations, a positive self-identity DWP, health, housing, local government, communities are able to develop and provide tailored BME recruitment and selection, promotion, and forming constructive relationships. and voluntary sector partners. services to people from BAME backgrounds. Working stop and search and trust and confidence. The in partnership with statutory agencies, these groups research report made 30 recommendations Working closely with the third sector Norfolk The voluntary sector has developed flexible are able to enhance effective policing by improving and since then a BME Steering Group and a Alliance for the Rehabilitation and Resettlement and person-centred services, often delivered community perceptions, leading to increased BME Working Group jointly chaired by the of Offenders (NARRO), this group has at a local level by highly trained staff and levels of trust, better engagement and improved Deputy Chief Constable and PCC have met established a number of work streams with volunteers. This work makes a vital contribution community safety outcomes. However, these monthly to oversee the recommendations. partners working together to address underlying to community safety, and deserves support. grassroots initiatives have been particularly affected problems linked to reoffending, including a Some achievements include: BME applications by cuts in public spending and rapid changes to targeted focus on women offenders, health, increased by 60% in 2014, BME recruitment the local policy and commissioning environment. accommodation, education, training and increased from 4.69% in 2013 to 15.62% in 2014 employment, domestic abuse, and sex work. through positive action and mentoring; BME representation has increased from 3.9% to 7.5% The PCC has collaborated with the DWP and for Special Constables; stop and searches are local MPs on a campaign to create more job much more proportionate for BME communities and training opportunities for ex-offenders. (reduced disproportionality by 22%). How you can work with the voluntary sector to cut crime How you can work with the voluntary sector to cut crime Support people Support gender with multiple and specific responses complex needs to women and girls

People in contact with the Criminal Justice The women and girls who enter the Criminal System often face multiple and complex needs Hertfordshire Complex Justice System are known to have very different Greater Manchester PCC that require support from a range of agencies. needs to men and many are victims too. Needs Project Taking a ‘whole People commonly face a combination of Pooling resources to The voluntary sector has developed gender system’ approach homelessness, drug and alcohol misuse, mental ill specific responses to this challenge, including health and associated problems with benefits and debt. respond effectively through dedicated women’s centres that In Greater Manchester, the PCC is supporting Hertfordshire PCC is working closely with deliver a holistic package of support in a efforts to embed a ‘whole system’ approach These issues may be low-level and manageable public health, clinical commissioning groups, safe and women-only environment. to reducing women’s offending. This involves when looked at separately, but in combination and local authority partners to pool resources working closely with a range of partners who complicate and exacerbate each other to the point and respond more effectively to complex need Some PCCs have already spotted the potential to have agreed to fund a network of women’s where the impact on a person’s life is severe. demands. This includes recent investment improve outcomes for these women by partnering community services with a common framework, in an adults with complex needs project, with women’s centres to support early diversion including an agreed data sharing protocol. Services too often fail to make these connections, targeting better coordinated support for into support and effective alternatives to custody Key aspects of the model include: women’s or struggle to get their clients the right help because individuals living chaotic lives who have placed for women in contact with the police. However, this triage and diversion; delivery of women-specific of problems with service thresholds, capacity and high demand on a range of local services. approach needs to be implemented everywhere. community orders (including via a problem long waiting lists. This means that people do not The approach offers an intensive and solving court); and resettlement services. get the support they need. This can result in and PCCs should support schemes that draw on personalised model of care, and expects escalation of problems and, in particular, repeated voluntary sector expertise to support vulnerable This new approach has seen partners working to see reduced costs to police, health, and contact with the police and Criminal Justice System women and girls. This will mean bringing police, together to invest in Greater Manchester’s local authority services by helping people in ways that might have been preventable. courts and probation together, championing the nine women’s centres, and is expected to to achieve greater stability and coordinating necessity and the benefits of a gender-specific support more than 3,000 women in the area. access to the range of services that they approach, and supporting the voluntary sector in Further examples of promising practice need to address their complex needs. adapting to the challenges of scaling up their offer. in relation to women in contact with the Criminal Justice System are available in the Revolving Doors Agency and T2A briefing, PCC spotlight 3: Women’s Offending, available at: www.revolving-doors.org.uk/documents/ pcc-spotlight-womens-offending/pcc- spotlight-3-women-s-offending.pdf How you can work with the voluntary sector to cut crime How you can work with the voluntary sector to cut crime Recognise young Listen and respond adults as a to people with distinct group lived experience

Young adults, aged 18-25, The people and families who have experience account for less than 10% of the South Wales PCC of the Criminal Justice System are a vital, and Youth Commission general population but make often untapped, source of intelligence about how up a third of those involved in Extending the principles of youth community safety services can be improved. Involving young people the Criminal Justice System offending services to young adults and ex-offenders in and are the group most likely to This is both in relation to how to reduce reoffending, reoffend. But they are also the South Wales PCC has targeted an improved response to and to how they could have been supported setting priorities group most likely to desist from young adults, with a particular focus on extending youth to change their behaviour before they entered Sussex, Hampshire, and Leicestershire crime with the right support. offending team principles to young adults. This involves a close the Criminal Justice System in the first place. PCCs have all hosted a Youth Commission, partnership between local authorities, youth offending services run by the SHM Foundation. The majority of youth and adult (YOS), probation and the voluntary sector to develop a distinct The voluntary sector promotes a number of This involves a group of young people aged justice policy and legislation remains approach to young adults. Features of the pilot include: innovative models for engaging with these ‘experts 14-24 (including ex-offenders) engaging with arbitrarily split on the basis of by experience’, in order to listen to their views and • ‘Relapse prevention’ and out of court disposals. A their peers to produce recommendations chronological age at 18. Despite involve them in service design. These approaches triage scheme in Bridgend where young adults (aged that will inform the police and crime plan, this, the voluntary sector has driven amplify people’s voices to make sure the Criminal 18- 21) that have previously been involved with YOS covering issues such as antisocial behaviour, and developed a range of local Justice System benefits from their insights. are identified if they come into police custody and are reoffending, domestic abuse, substance interventions for young adults which linked back into the YOS team for targeted support. misuse, and relationships with the police. have led to improved outcomes. PCCs should consult with all those who have • Employment, apprenticeships and training. A scheme direct experience of the services they deliver, The Youth Commission approach PCCs should support the further supported by the PCC to remove the financial risk for local small including offenders. PCCs should work with the has recently been extended to development and implementation businesses when employing young adults with criminal records. voluntary sector to ensure that in their statutory Nottinghamshire and North Yorkshire. of local approaches to young adults • An 18-21 Triage pilot scheme. Operating in Cardiff duty to engage with the public they are hearing that work across the arbitrary divide Bay Bridewell, diverting young adults away from police the important perspectives of people who have of youth and adult justice services. custody, using a restorative justice approach that been through the Criminal Justice System. builds upon the triage already in place for 10-17s. • A voluntary bail support scheme. A scheme in Merthyr and Bridgend Bridewells, aimed at 18-25s who have been identified as vulnerable during police detention and questioning. It extends the Appropriate Adult scheme to supports them at point of charge, bail to court, preparation for court and working alongside them in the community.

Further examples are available in the Revolving Doors Agency & T2A briefing PCC Spotlight: Young Adults (18-24) in contact with the police and criminal justice services: www.revolving- doors.org.uk/documents/pcc-spotlight-young-adults How you can work with the voluntary sector to cut crime How you can work with the voluntary sector to cut crime Be a champion Further for volunteering information in the CJS and resources

The voluntary sector recruits, trains and Revolving Doors Agency More than a Provider manages committed and passionate Hertfordshire PCC Revolving Doors Agency’s First Generation project Clinks interviewed voluntary sector organisations and local people as volunteers. works with PCCs and their staff to help cut crime, end held discussions with commissioners to produce this Volunteering strategy 'revolving door' offending, and improve responses to report which provides examples of good practice, Volunteers provide a bridge between communities In June 2014, the PCC for Hertfordshire young adults and people with multiple needs who including using the expertise of voluntary organisations and the Criminal Justice System, engaging launched his Volunteering Strategy for 2014- come into repeated contact with the police. This to assess service user need; giving clear information and motivating people to desist from crime. 2016. It provides a framework for volunteering webpage includes checklists for PCCs on improving about tendering processes and key contacts; and This includes peer volunteering where people across policing, the Criminal Justice System services for people with multiple and complex using grants to support partnership development. with lived experience of the CJS provide and community protection in Hertfordshire. needs and young adults in the Criminal Justice practical advice and support to others. System as well as examples of PCC best practice. www.clinks.org/resources-reports/ The document recommends the formal more-provider-role-voluntary-sector- Volunteering is freely given, but not cost- adoption of Hertfordshire Volunteer Centre’s www.revolving-doors.org.uk/policy--research/ commissioning-offender-services free. It requires ongoing investment to Six Point Promise. This promise makes sure that policy-projects/first-generation-project ensure quality recruitment, training and organisations are prepared for the challenges Who Cares? supervision can be maintained. volunteering presents, ensures consistent Safer Future Communities Who Cares? Where next for women offender best practice and allows organisations Clinks’ Safer Future Communities was funded by the services? is a Clinks report providing a snapshot PCCs are in an excellent position to champion to test their policies and procedures. Home Office between 2011 and 2013 to support into the experience of community based women positive, sustainable, responsible voluntary the development of local networks of Voluntary, offender services and provides recommendations action across all parts of their local Criminal Community and Social Enterprise organisations for sustaining these vital services to meet the Justice System. This means ensuring resources to engage with and influence PCCs and the new needs of women offenders in the future. for the organisations that support volunteers, commissioning landscape in which they operate. These simpler and more consistent procedures, webpages include a variety of resources to support www.clinks.org/resources-reports/who-cares- and better engagement from all partners. PCCs and the voluntary sector to work with each other. where-next-women-offender-services www.clinks.org/sfc Working with ex-offender organisations and The Do It Justice guide to desistance volunteer centres could open up volunteering The Young Review Clinks’ Introducing desistance: a guide for and eventual employment to those on voluntary, community and social enterprise the path to desistance from crime. The Young Review, initiated by Clinks and the Black Training Enterprise Group and chaired by sector organisations aims to provide an accessible Baroness Young of Hornsey, published its report and summary of some of the key themes in the recommendations on improving outcomes for young desistance literature and explore the factors that black and Muslim men in the Criminal Justice System can support desistance. It focuses on how the in December 2014. Since then its independent voluntary sector can use the theory to demonstrate advisory group has been working with the Ministry the success of their work supporting desistance of Justice and National Offender Management to policy-makers, funders, commissioners, other Service to take its recommendations forward. partners and perhaps also prime providers. www.youngreview.org www.clinks.org/resources-dij-desistance How you can work with the voluntary sector to cut crime

Get in touch Published by Clinks © 2016. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, no part of this publication may be stored in a retrievable system or reproduced in any form without prior written permission from Clinks. Clinks will give sympathetic consideration to requests from small organisations for permission to reproduce this publication in whole or in part but the terms upon which such reproduction may be permitted will remain at Clinks’ discretion. Clinks and the author are not legally trained or qualified. Any information or guidance given in this publication should not be taken as a substitute for professional legal advice. Clinks is unable to accept liability for any loss or damage or inconvenience arising as a consequence of the use of any information provided in this guide. Please contact Clinks if you would like to talk Please contact Revolving Doors Agency if you have Clinks is a registered charity no. 1074546 and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales no. 3562176. about how local community safety bodies can any examples of promising practice in your area, or if Cover photo make the CJS work better for offenders, those who you would like to discuss how experts by experience Tempus Novo, Yorkshire | © Rebecca McPhillips / support them, and the communities they live in. can shape local commissioning and decision-making. allyouneedislovephotography.co.uk [email protected] [email protected] 0207 383 0966 020 7407 0747 www.clinks.org www.revolving-doors.org.uk Tavis House South Bank Technopark 1-6 Tavistock Square 90 Road London WC1H 9NA London SE1 6LN 020 7383 0966 020 7407 0747 [email protected] [email protected] @Clinks_Tweets @RevDoors www.clinks.org www.revolving-doors.org.uk