LAW ENFORCEMENT
Out of the nick and into the N.I.C
Companies are being urged to give ex-offenders a second chance as part of a Government scheme aimed at cutting the cost of re-offending. Businesses that take part in the scheme will benefit from National Insurance Contribution (NIC) holidays.
The inmate education and employment strategy aimed at cutting the £15 billion annual cost of re-offending, will give individual prison governors full autonomy to tailor their programmes to meet the needs of employers in their local area.
In Kent, prison governor James Padley has determined that construction work is one of the main areas crying out for new recruits.
The inmates at Standford Hill are put through an intensive course, giving them certified qualifications to enter that work sector.
Mr Padley said: "If you give a man employment, you give him the ability to support himself and to look after his family.
"But you also give him self-esteem and you make him part of the society that he's been away from."
Omar Welsh is one offender benefiting from the new strategy.
A serial criminal, he has never worked a day in his life, but he has now passed several employment tests and obtained an LGV licence to help him enter the road haulage business.
He is full of praise for the help he has received and urged other inmates to make use of the programme.
"Until you do something positive to try to change your life around, you're always going to be stuck in the same mould, doing crime and getting sent back to prison," he said.
"You have to try and help yourself and do something to try to change yourself. Until you make that change, you're always going to be in the same mess."
Justice Secretary David Gauke said the strategy was aimed at putting offenders back "on the path to employment".
He said it is hoped the strategy "will help to cut the £15bn annual cost of re-offending as ex-offenders in employment are less likely to commit further crime."
At present, however, just 17 per cent of offenders are in P45 employment a year after release.
A consultation on how to get more risk-assessed prisoners out of their cells and into real workplaces, while on temporary licence, is also being launched.
A new body, the New Futures Network, will work side-by-side with employers to generate job opportunities.
Gary Rosewell, owner of Kent shipping company Total Ship Services, has hired 14 inmates from HMP Standford Hill over recent years.
He said: "All they need is help, a leg up to get back into society. If you release them with a few quid in their pocket and no prospects, what do you expect? I'm not condoning it, but that's the vicious cycle these guys are in.
"They need business leaders to recognise that, intervene and give them another chance in life."
