Case Book: We’re working to break cycle of reoffenders
Aug 26 2010 By Rebekah Oruye
THERE are 25 career criminals currently being monitored by a specialist crime team in Solihull.
These people are not your average crooks, they are well-known to cops and have been through the prison system numerous times for repeat offences ranging from car crime to burglaries.
Four years ago, six of them were responsible for 88.8 per cent of all vehicle crime committed in the region.
With shocking figures like that, the Offender Management Team (OMT) are kept firmly on their toes.
Sergeant Julian Powell has been supervising the OMT for two years and said the team had achieved “relative success” when tackling Prolific and Priority Offenders (PPOs).
He said: “We are very realistic and know what kinds of people they are.
“It is rare to get prolific offenders completely rehabilitated because of their lifestyle and often a drug dependency. For us, if they stay away from crime and drugs for six months before re-offending, that is seen as a relative success.”
There are three strands to the OMTs work.
Firstly they liaise with partner agencies, including housing, drug treatment and mental health services within the borough to try and divert repeat offenders away from criminal activity and rehabilitate them back into society.
Officers conduct home and prison visits to get to know the individuals on a personal level.
Sgt Powell said: “Our main aim is to work together to resolve problems and keep them out of the drug cycle. If that fails, or for whatever reason the person reverts back to criminal activity, the second wave of criminal management kicks in - the catch and convict strand.
“Officers target offenders known to be committing criminal acts within the borough and get them back into criminal system, where the rehabilitation services would start again.”
The third area the OMT deal with is to “prevent and deter”. This is primarily for youngsters in the area who are already on prison order.
“There are a number of diversion activities such as football training and other sporting activities, that can be used by all youths and not just those who have been referred to the team.”
