Two regional police commissioners have signed an innovative new plan aimed at cutting reoffending.
Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner for Durham, Ron Hogg, and his colleague for Cleveland Police signed the new agreement at the Crown Prosecution Service offices in Middlesbrough.
The Cleveland and Durham Local Criminal Justice Partnership brings together agencies with responsibility for delivering criminal justice, and services for victims and people who have offended.
The partners have agreed a clear vision: ‘County Durham, Darlington and Cleveland are areas where people have confidence in a local criminal justice system which supports victims, rehabilitates offenders and reduces re-offending, and delivers value for money’.
The innovative new plan has three core objectives to be delivered by 2021:
1. An end-to-end service for supporting Victims and Witnesses.
2. An end-to-end system for rehabilitating offenders and reducing reoffending.
3. The most efficient and integrated local criminal justice system in the country.
Ron Hogg said: “This is a key moment for the partnership.
“Not only is this the first time that partners across the criminal justice system have formally signed up to a joint improvement plan, but it also includes other public services – including local councils and the health service – which provide services to support victims and people who have offended.
“It is a demonstration of a strong appetite to work together to deliver our shared aims. We will build on existing services so that victims and witnesses receive the support they need, and redouble our joint efforts to rehabilitate offenders. And above all we will increase confidence.”
Barry Coppinger said: “This plan is about better coordinating the work of criminal justice partners in Cleveland Durham to deliver improved services for victims, better rehabilitation of offenders and make the criminal justice system process more efficient and effective.
“We have established a small joint team to work with partners and we look forward to progress over the next 12 months.”
Bronwen Elphick, Durham Tees Valley Community Rehabilitation Company chief executive, added: “We are delighted to be able to sign up to this plan where all local partners are working to reduce crime and support victims in our communities.
“The umbrella of the Local Criminal Justice Board provides a strong base for all agencies to work on this agenda together and make our communities safer places to live.”
