Offender Learning Failures Exacerbated by Lack of Coordination and Prison Overcrowding

Nacro, the crime reduction charity, has welcomed a report by the Public Accounts Committee, which reveals the failure of the Offender Learning and Skills Service.

Commenting, Claire Bassett, Nacro’s Director of Operations, said:

“This scathing report highlights the unacceptable state of offender learning both in prison and for those on probation, exacerbated by prison overcrowding and the movement of prisoners around the country.

“The tragedy is that getting it right would pay huge dividends for crime reduction, as gaining employment reduces the likelihood of reoffending by between a third and a half.

“The range of learning opportunities for offenders is extremely limited and there is a severe lack of overall coordination and through-the-gate services. For example, prisoners held in East Midlands prisons may only be able to finish their qualifications by travelling to the North West where the current provider is based. For the majority of released prisoners, this would be impossible.

“Urgent improvements are clearly needed and we would like to see increased overall coordination alongside more localised support with links to education establishments in the communities where prisoners are resettled.”

ENDS