A drugs outreach programme tackling burglary and robbery by helping rehabilitate addicts who often steal to fund their habit has been praised by Home Office Minister Alan Campbell.
Outreach workers at the Merton adult crack service (MACS) project target newly released prisoners and those who have dropped out of other programmes to get them back into treatment for their addiction, rather than turning to burglary or robbery to pay for drugs.
The workers, who go out to clients’ homes or meet them in the community, were funded by a Vigilance programme grant awarded to the Safer Merton crime and disorder reduction partnership (CDRP) (new window) earlier this year.
The Vigilance programme is a Home Office fund to provide additional support to 35 areas across the country to take tough action against burglary and robbery, including a crackdown on known and repeat offenders.
Statement from the Home Office Minister
Alan Campbell said, 'Burglary has fallen by 54 per cent since 1997 but we are not complacent and continue to take a front-footed approach to crime during an economic downturn. The Vigilance programme and the work going on in Merton is just one example of that, so we will continue challenging partnerships to do more.
'Tightening the net around known offenders and helping addicts get the treatment they need removes the driving force behind crimes like robbery and burglary and helps to cut re-offending rates.
'We will do all we can to help people who want to turn their lives around but those who continue to commit crime will face the consequences.'
Free confidential service
The MACS service is a free confidential service open to Merton residents who have been affected by substance misuse. Since starting in August 2009 the outreach workers have worked with 38 people who were not being supervised and helped them back into treatment.
Safer Merton has also used its Vigilance grant to pay for additional police officers. It has introduced the integrated offender mnagement approach allowing it to increase the number of prolific and priority offenders (PPO) under supervision.
Statement from Merton Council deputy leader
Councillor Samantha George, said, 'Merton is consistently ranked as one of the safest boroughs in London and the success of programmes such as these demonstrates the excellent partnership work that helps put our residents' needs first and keep them safe.
'Both the MAC service and the work that the prolific and priority offender team undertake help make a real difference to both the individuals who want to turn their lives around and to the wider community.'
Statement from Merton Police acting chief inspector for partnerships
Helen Harper said, 'Working with prolific offenders is not easy but the hard work and commitment shown by the teams involved in making these services a success has really paid off.
'Recent figures showed that Merton has significantly reduced the rate of re-offending - the best reduction rate in London - and through the police's partnership work with probation, the council and other local agencies, we aim to continue this good work.'
The Vigilance programme is part of wider Home Office action to tackle acquisitive crime which includes: the £6.5m safer homes fund which will secure 60,000 homes across the country; and the retail crime action plan (new window) which includes a £5m fund for small retailers to buy security devices such as alarms or UV markers.
Notes to editors
The vigilance programme, which was launched in July 2009, will offer:
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£3m for intensive management of released prisoners who have served less than 12 months, to ensure that they don’t stay in the revolving door of re-offending
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a diagnostic of the burglary and robbery challenges facing the CDRP. Based on this evidence, agreed action plans with the CDRPs will be followed by intensive support to implement the plans.
The vigilance programme areas are: Leeds, Barking & Dagenham, Tameside, Redbridge, Portsmouth, Bolton, Kirklees, Leicester, Peterborough, Derby, Havering, Cambridge, Bradford, Enfield, Waltham Forest, Stockport, Merton, North Lincolnshire, Salford, Croydon, Southend, Calderdale, City of Westminster, Bromley, North East Lincolnshire, Central Bedfordshire, Trafford, York, Wycombe, Basildon, Bexley, Doncaster, Sheffield, Manchester; and Nottingham.
The increased supervision of offenders will adopt the integrated offender management approach, which draws together existing successful offender-targeted programmes, such as the drug interventions programme and the prolific and other priority offender programme, allowing more priority offenders to be intensively managed. Integrated offender management is currently being pioneered in six areas - Avon and Somerset, Lancashire, London, Nottinghamshire, West Midlands and West Yorkshire.
A free advice pack for people concerned about becoming victims of burglary that provides simple and practical advice on what they can do to prevent it is also available. It includes discount vouchers for home security products from B&Q and Focus, a DIY company. To request a pack ring 0800 456 1213.
You can watch a short video about the vigilance programme (new window) go on our Youtube channel.
For more information call the Home Office press office on 020 7035 3535.
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