Around 700 offenders in Wales will be told to attend treatment
when they are handed a community sentence in court, in an effort
to bear down on the £18 billion cost of reoffending to taxpayers.
The Government has awarded £1.1 million to G4S with Forensic
Psychology Consultancy to run the initiative, which will see
offenders assessed by a mental health practitioner to inform
sentencing and start targeted treatment, or therapy, within
weeks. At the moment this typically takes much longer –
increasing the chances of reoffending.
The funding will support more offenders to access the treatment
they need as part of a tough and effective community sentence
that tackles the root causes of their offending.
Regional Probation Director for Wales, Nic Davies, said:
We know mental health issues can often be an underlying cause of
crime so targeted treatment and support is vital if we want to
protect the public, reduce reoffending and help offenders move on
with their lives.
This investment is a significant boost for mental health support
in Wales and will make it easier for the Probation Service to
supervise offenders through their sentence and become a
law-abiding member of society.
The new service follows a successful pilot in Swansea which has
been running since August 2021. The pilot found that 80 per cent
of offenders who took part in this type of community order
experienced a significant benefit to their mental health.
G4S Community Director, Ben Lloyd, said:
Our communities are home to many people who have treatment needs
but who struggle to access the support that would help them to
manage their condition or situation and overcome the challenges
they face.
While too many of these people find themselves involved in the
justice system, a court hearing provides an opportunity for
sentencers to consider what has happened, what support may be
required to help people to stabilise, achieve some change and to
return to an active and contributory role in their families and
neighbourhoods.
Notes to editors
- £1.1 million has been awarded to G4S to deliver this contract
until the end of March 2025.
- The 3 types of Community Sentence Treatment Requirements
(CSTRs) are Alcohol Treatment requirements (ATRs), Drug
Rehabilitation Requirements (DRRs), and Mental Health Treatment
Requirements (MHTRs). These can be handed down by the courts to
offenders on community sentences and force them into treatment
and tackle the root causes of offending. Treatment can involve
counselling sessions with medical professionals, drug testing and
accredited programmes such as anger management courses.
- This funding will go towards support delivered through Mental
Health Treatment Requirements (MHTRs).
