Access to Housing and Offending

Increasing housing need through the criminal justice system YOS data – Caseloads for 2015 (Cambridgeshire) and 2016 (Peterborough) CRC and NPS data – details of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough clients who were on caseload in February 2017 (CRC n=2162, NPS n=1448). Individuals sentenced get at least 1 year’s probation. Prisons – data from HMP Peterborough (September 2016), the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough discharge prison. Includes data from those resident in other areas. Need is identified if issues relating to accommodation are linked to their criminal behaviour (i.e. there will be other housing needs not captured here) Strategic Needs Assessment: Managing Offenders, Preventing Offending 2017 http://cambridgeshireinsight.org.uk/community-safety/victim-offender-needs-assessment

Complex and vulnerable individuals with many needs Huge overlap between those receiving services from different parts of the system (housing, substance misuse, probation) * Many different needs beyond offending, substance misuse and housing such as education, mental health and finance. Example of needs contributing to offending behaviour in women * Hard Edges 2015, Lankelly Chase Foundation. Strategic Needs Assessment: Managing Offenders, Preventing Offending 2017

Case study A: Prolific Offender, Drug User Served a 7 year sentence for a large number of serious acquisitive crimes. Completed a homeless declaration in prison so assumed he would be put in a hostel on release. Integrated Offender Management officers accompanied him to his appointment on release. Despite viewing and accepting an offered property, one day after release the landlord decided not to house him. In the meantime, he stayed with a friend despite concerns of being around drugs. He attended all his appointments, remained tagged and was supported trying to secure accommodation. He had ‘sofa surfed’ for 10 days immediately after release. A re-offence with older associates led back to prison less than a month after being released.

Case study B: Resident, HMP Peterborough “The single biggest factor in my offending behaviour is my homelessness. I am released from custody with no fixed abode but full of motivation, determination and stability on my medication. Because I’m having to sleep rough from release that starts to deteriorate. This exacerbates my mental health issues that results in self medicating in the form of substance misuse. Inevitably this will be funded through criminal activity”

Revolving door of prison and homelessness Homeless offenders entering prison have a much higher reconviction rate in a year (79% vs 47%)* Reoffenders have a much higher accommodation need Particularly noticeable in Cambridge City Accommodation need among CRC cohort and CRC re-offenders Strategic Needs Assessment: Managing Offenders, Preventing Offending 2017 * MOJ Research Assessment 3/12: Accommodation, homelessness and reoffending of prisoners: Results from the Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction (SPCR) survey. Kim Williams, Jennifer Poyser, and Kathryn Hopkins

Case study C: Former Prolific Offender Served sentences for numerous offences. History of staying with friends who were drug users. She completed a housing application and was successful in getting a bidding number and housing. She was later removed from the Integrated Offender Management Scheme as she had not reoffended.

Key Issues Current policies can limit access to housing which impacts offending and reoffending e.g. “unacceptable behaviour”, “intentionally worsening housing circumstances” Demand for appropriate housing outstrips supply Co-ordination of services across the system e.g. pre-release planning, Friday releases

Data gaps These estimates rely on the needs data (OASys) collected by probation Accommodation need is only identified if it is deemed to contribute to offending behaviour 679 individuals in probation with no geographic data recorded (21%) At least 214 had accommodation needs Approximately half are lower risk, though still likely have complex needs 766 individuals in probation with no needs data recorded (24%) This does not include anyone in contact with the Criminal Justice System but not in adult probation such as: Young offenders Those in prison on remand, who do not receive a sentence Those in contact with the police e.g. receive a caution, stay in police custody

In Feb 2017, in Cambridge City 342 individuals in probation* At least 67 had accommodation needs Over half are lower risk, though still likely have complex needs Women and under 30s show high need These numbers will be an under-estimate of housing need in those with an offending history as: It only includes those where accommodation need is deemed to contribute to offending behaviour There is no geographic data on 21% of those in probation, and 24% had not completed a needs assessment This does not include anyone in contact with the Criminal Justice System but not in adult probation such as: Young offenders Those in prison on remand, who do not receive a sentence Those in contact with the police e.g. receive a caution, stay in police custody * Those that have been in prison or received a community/suspended sentence – includes both probation services (CRC and NPS)

In Feb 2017, in East Cambridgeshire 136 individuals in probation* At least 16 had accommodation needs Approximately half are lower risk, though still likely have complex needs Women and under 30s show high need These numbers will be an under-estimate of housing need in those with an offending history as: It only includes those where accommodation need is deemed to contribute to offending behaviour There is no geographic data on 21% of those in probation, and 24% had not completed a needs assessment This does not include anyone in contact with the Criminal Justice System but not in adult probation such as: Young offenders Those in prison on remand, who do not receive a sentence Those in contact with the police e.g. receive a caution, stay in police custody * Those that have been in prison or received a community/suspended sentence – includes both probation services (CRC and NPS)

In Feb 2017, in Fenland 365 individuals in probation* At least 37 had accommodation needs Over half are lower risk, though still likely have complex needs Women and under 30s show high need These numbers will be an under-estimate of housing need in those with an offending history as: It only includes those where accommodation need is deemed to contribute to offending behaviour There is no geographic data on 21% of those in probation, and 24% had not completed a needs assessment This does not include anyone in contact with the Criminal Justice System but not in adult probation such as: Young offenders Those in prison on remand, who do not receive a sentence Those in contact with the police e.g. receive a caution, stay in police custody * Those that have been in prison or received a community/suspended sentence – includes both probation services (CRC and NPS)

In Feb 2017, in Huntingdonshire 418 individuals in probation* At least 65 had accommodation needs Approximately half are lower risk, though still likely have complex needs Women and under 30s show high need These numbers will be an under-estimate of housing need in those with an offending history as: It only includes those where accommodation need is deemed to contribute to offending behaviour There is no geographic data on 21% of those in probation, and 24% had not completed a needs assessment This does not include anyone in contact with the Criminal Justice System but not in adult probation such as: Young offenders Those in prison on remand, who do not receive a sentence Those in contact with the police e.g. receive a caution, stay in police custody * Those that have been in prison or received a community/suspended sentence – includes both probation services (CRC and NPS)

In Feb 2017, in South Cambridgeshire 222 individuals in probation* At least 34 had accommodation needs Over half are lower risk, though still likely have complex needs Women and under 30s show high need These numbers will be an under-estimate of housing need in those with an offending history as: It only includes those where accommodation need is deemed to contribute to offending behaviour There is no geographic data on 21% of those in probation, and 24% had not completed a needs assessment This does not include anyone in contact with the Criminal Justice System but not in adult probation such as: Young offenders Those in prison on remand, who do not receive a sentence Those in contact with the police e.g. receive a caution, stay in police custody * Those that have been in prison or received a community/suspended sentence – includes both probation services (CRC and NPS)

In Feb 2017, in Peterborough 1028 individuals in probation* At least 208 had accommodation needs Just under half are lower risk, though still likely have complex needs Women and under 30s show high need These numbers will be an under-estimate of housing need in those with an offending history as: It only includes those where accommodation need is deemed to contribute to offending behaviour There is no geographic data on 21% of those in probation, and 24% had not completed a needs assessment This does not include anyone in contact with the Criminal Justice System but not in adult probation such as: Young offenders Those in prison on remand, who do not receive a sentence Those in contact with the police e.g. receive a caution, stay in police custody * Those that have been in prison or received a community/suspended sentence – includes both probation services (CRC and NPS)

Source: Strategic Needs Assessment: Managing Offenders, Preventing Offending 2017 http://cambridgeshireinsight.org.uk/community-safety/victim-offender-needs-assessment Contact: Cristina.Strood@cambs.pnn.police.uk Emmeline.Watkins@cambs.pnn.police.uk