The number of offenders who reoffend within a 12-month period is currently at its lowest level in Durham and Darlington for the past decade, according to new statistics.
The figure has almost closed the gap between the force area and the national average.
The quarterly performance report looks at how Durham Constabulary and other organisations in the Local Criminal Justice Partnership are reducing reoffending as well as helping to rehabilitate people who have offended.
The partnership aims to ensure that adults and young people who offend are challenged and supported to desist from crime.
The Office of the PCVC provides support to the youth justice/youth offending service both in relation to those young people who offend and young victims.
The report shows the first six months of 2019/20 saw a 35.2% reduction in the number of young people offending and a 28% reduction in the number of offences committed compared to the same period in 2018/19.
The PCVC has provided funds to enable the North East Prison Aftercare Society (NEPACS) to extend their suite of family support activities.
This helps to tackle the issue of children as hidden victims as a result of a parent committing an offence. The average reoffending rate is 12% lower for those with NEPACS family support.
The report also looks at confidence people have in the criminal justice system as well as confidence in Durham Constabulary.
It highlights that Confidence Academy Training is now being rolled out across the force, so that all officers are trained in techniques to increase public confidence in policing.
Acting PCVC Steve White said “Local people should feel reassured that programmes such as Park, Walk and Talk are being introduced to help focus on areas with high instance of crime-related incidents, public safety incidents and ASB incidents.
“This will help strengthen links between the force and the public.”
