Author and Job Role: George Bell, Criminal Justice Policy & Commissioning Officer
Protective Marking: Official
Executive Summary:
For 2023/24 the Police and Crime Commissioner has made available £270,000.00 of funding to reduce reoffending in Surrey.
Applications for Standard Grant Awards above £5,000 – Reducing Reoffending Fund
Liberty Choir – Liberty Choir Surrey – Ginny Dougary
Brief overview of service/decision – To award £90,000 (over three years) to Liberty Choir Surrey’s prison choir project. Liberty Choir exists to break the cycle of re-offending for prisoners with life-long experiences of abandonment, disadvantage & social exclusion, using the proven social, educational & wellbeing benefits of group singing. Concerts for family & friends enable prisoners to showcase their talents, presenting themselves in a role other than a prisoner, enabling them to change perception & re-build connections with loved ones. Once released, inmates access support through their local network of community choirs & gateway support service partners.
Reason for funding
– The reduction of re-offending – By delivering weekly choir sessions in prisons which partner inmates with community singers in an environment of trust, support & mutual learning. These sessions foster creativity, re-engage prisoners with educational & learning pathways, improve mental wellbeing, build positive social connections & reduce re-offending.
– To protect people from harm in Surrey – Liberty Choir aims to break the cycle of reoffending & contribute to higher levels of public safety. They establish choirs which enable prisoners to participate in musical activity that improves mental health, delivers creative life skills & builds social bonds.
Surrey Police Checkpoint Scheme – Rise Against Hate – Ailsa Quinlan
Brief overview of service/decision – To award £15,000 to Surrey Police’s Checkpoint scheme for their intervention for hate crime project. Checkpoint is a deferred prosecution scheme that has been running in Surrey since 2019. As part of the scheme offenders are asked to complete interventions to prevent reoffending. This funding is for an intervention for Hate crime offenders.
Reason for funding – The reduction of reoffending & protecting people from harm in Surrey – The Checkpoint scheme has a reoffending rate of 6% and therefore proven to protect people from harm in Surrey by reducing crime. It reduces reoffending by concentrating interventions on reasons for the offending, helping offenders to develop an understanding and acceptance of others’ beliefs, cultures and values, and the consequences of their behaviour on families and communities. It also leads to better justice for victims with victims having a voice in what interventions the offender receives.
Recommendation
That the Commissioner supports these standard grant applications to the Reducing Reoffending Fund and awards to the following;
- £90,000 (over three years) to Liberty Choir
- £15,000 to Surrey Police Checkpoint Scheme
Police and Crime Commissioner Approval
I approve the recommendation(s):
Signature: Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend (wet signed copy held at PCC Office)
Date: 15 December 2023
All decisions must be added to the decision register.
Areas of consideration
Consultation
Consultation has taken place with appropriate lead officers depending on the application. All applications have been asked to supply evidence of any consultation and community engagement.
Financial implications
All applications have been asked to confirm the organisation hold accurate financial information. They are also asked to include the total costs of the project with breakdown where the money will be spent; any additional funding secured or applied for and plans for on-going funding. The Reducing Reoffending Fund Decision Panel/Criminal Justice policy officers considers the financial risks and opportunities when looking at each application.
Legal
Legal advice is taken on an application-by-application basis.
Risks
The Reducing reoffending Fund Decision Panel and Criminal Justice policy officers considers any risks in the allocation of funding. It is also part of the process to consider when refusing an application, the service delivery risks if appropriate.
Equality and diversity
Each application will be requested to supply appropriate equality and diversity information as part of the monitoring requirements. All applicants are expected to adhere to the Equality Act 2010
Risks to human rights
Each application will be requested to supply appropriate human rights information as part of the monitoring requirements. All applicants are expected to adhere to the Human Rights Act.