THROUGH THE GATE RESETTLEMENT SERVICES JOINT REPORT

That this House notes with concern the recently published inspection report, Through the Gate Resettlement Services for Short-Term Prisoners by HM Inspectorate of Probation and HM Inspectorate of Prisons; further notes that Through the Gate is a flagship rehabilitation policy of Government which aims to reduce reoffending rates of those serving under 12 months; is aware that Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) are responsible for this provision yet due to lack of incentive from Government contract arrangements, are failing to give priority to this work; is concerned that the report highlights that of the 86 cases inspected, not one client was helped into work, a third were released with nowhere to live and limited provision was given to those in debt; notes that in 61 per cent of cases inspected, the CRC had taken insufficient account of public protection, most notably in cases of domestic violence; is aware that, since the introduction of the Transforming Rehabilitation programme, probation services across the UK have seen a reduction in service quality and low morale within both CRCs and the NPS; and urgently calls on the Government to rescind the CRC contracts immediately and launch a review into the Transforming Rehabilitation Agenda and its impact on offenders, victims, the public and staff.