We've covered the astonishing decision by the MoJ to defund Circles of Support and Accountability before and this evaluation report serves to confirm just how bad decision-making is at Marsham Street:-
An Evaluation of the ‘Completing the Circle’ Project
On 25th November 2020 Circles UK hosted a seminar to launch the results of an in-depth, independent evaluation study undertaken by a research team at the Sexual Offences, Crime and Misconduct Research Unit (SOCMRU), Nottingham Trent University. The evaluation study captured the findings of a four-year project entitled ‘Completing the Circle: A Community Approach to Reducing Sexual Abuse.’ Over 100 participants attended the event, representing agencies and organisations from countries as far afield as Sweden, Canada, and New Zealand.
What was the Completing the Circle Project?
Loneliness, isolation, and alienation are known high risk factors for sexual recidivism. Circles are a unique programme for reducing these risks. Circles work with high-risk sexual harm causers to augment stretched statutory provision for this group of offenders and so help prevent further sexual abuse.
In a Circle, 4-6 local Volunteers work with an individual who has been assessed as a high risk. The ‘Circle’ meets for at least 12 months. The person who has committed a sexual offence/s – known as the Core Member – is supported by the Volunteers to reintegrate safely into the community. The Volunteers also hold him/her/they accountable for their past and future behaviours.
In 2015 the National Lottery Community Fund awarded a grant of £2,040,394 to a consortium of Circle Providers brought together and led by Circles UK. The Consortium was tasked to establish delivery in parts of the country where Circles did not exist. These areas were Merseyside, London, Lincolnshire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Northamptonshire.
Outcomes
Results were impressive. In just over four years, Circles Providers were set up in all previously ‘un-served’ areas, 188 Circles were delivered and almost 800 Volunteers were recruited, trained, and supervised. Together these Volunteers spent nearly 40,000 hours engaged in Circle activities. Qualitative results, drawing from a thematic analysis of reports compiled at the end of each Circle, along with interviews with a sample of key participants, produced evidence which markedly illustrated the complexities surrounding the Core Member client group, the individualised and distinctly ‘person centred’ character of the Circles model and the skill and tenacity demonstrated by Volunteers.
A number of statistically significant findings were also identified:
• Risk Reduced
The risk of sexual reoffending presented by Core Members declined. Shifts in dynamic risk factors were measured using an established tool called the Dynamic Risk Review (DRR). Analysis revealed that the risk associated with ‘dynamic’, changeable variables reduced after three months involvement with a Circle, with further dynamic risk reductions over time. Impressively, Core Members in the study demonstrated an 18% reduction in dynamic risk scores over the course of their Circle.
These incremental reductions in dynamic risk over time reinforce a long-established understanding that effecting change among the serious sexual harm causers targeted by Circles requires time, commitment, and persistence. There is no ‘short fix’ when it comes to supporting Core Members to alter damaging and often deeply entrenched behaviours. However, relationships developed over a prolonged period have a demonstrable and positive effect.
• Reintegration Improved
Protective factors known to inhibit the risk of sexual recidivism also showed significant improvement across a range of variables, including accommodation, the number of stable, emotional relationships, employment and purposeful activities and hobbies.
After only 3 months on a Circle:
• 96% of Core Members were in stable and suitable accommodation; this increased to 100% at 9 months.
• 26% of Core Members were in paid or voluntary employment; this increased to 42% at 9 months.
• Wellbeing Increased
Emotional wellbeing is an important protective factor which research has shown contributes to desistance from sexual offending. The study results demonstrated that Circles significantly improve the emotional wellbeing of Core Members. At the start of their Circle, each Core Member had significantly poorer emotional wellbeing than the average person. Their emotional wellbeing improved significantly, however, throughout the duration of their Circle. The data demonstrate an 18% increase in wellbeing scores, with 67% of the Core Members demonstrating significant improvements in wellbeing by the time their Circle came to an end.
The Wider Benefits
There was also a pay-off for local citizens and communities. As well as the improved community safety afforded by Circles, the evaluation highlighted the reciprocal nature of volunteering in a Circle. Findings taken from comparisons of pre- and post-training questionnaires revealed that the training delivered to Circles Volunteers was informative and impactful. Furthermore, over time, the confidence levels of Volunteers increased, and they acquired transferable skills which sometimes improved their employability, as this quote demonstrates.
Conclusion
‘Completing the Circle’ was an ambitious four-year project which set out to end the ‘postcode lottery’ of access to Circles. It achieved this objective and generated fresh evidence of the far-reaching community safety and rehabilitative benefits of Circles.
Circles UK wishes to express its sincere appreciation to the National Lottery for funding the project and the research team at the Sexual Offences, Crime and Misconduct Research Unit (SOCMRU), Nottingham Trent University. We also wish to pay tribute to the Circles Providers that participated as delivery partners and whose commitment and expertise were instrumental to the project’s success. These were:
Circles South East https://circlessoutheast.org.uk/The Safer Living Foundation https://www.saferlivingfoundation.org/
Change, Grow, Live https://www.changegrowlive.org/
Re:shape (organisation has ceased operation)
CROPT (organisation has ceased operation)
Leah Warwick
National Development Manager Circles UK
30th March 2021
"Analytical Services exists to improve policy making, decision taking and practice by the Ministry of Justice." - 2014
ReplyDeletehttps://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/293400/cosa-research-summary.pdf
"There are no large, long-term and independent evaluations that have investigated the impact of CoSA on recidivism in the UK or elsewhere."
"The case file review of the NOMS-funded pilots shows that Circles did support the Core Member, and complemented statutory supervision through supporting compliance with treatment programmes and monitoring the activities of Core Members, as well as providing a positive social network for the Core Member on release from prison. The average cost of a Circle, excluding volunteer costs, was £9,800 for the Circles managed by the Lucy Faithfull Foundation and £7,900 for the Circles that were managed by the Hampshire and Thames Valley Circles."
"In July 2013 there were 96 Circles operating in England and Wales. Following the end of the NOMS-funded pilots in 2010, NOMS have provided funding to Circles UK rather than to individual Circles. Local Circles are generally funded by local probation trusts, charitable foundations and occasionally by the local police force."
Every single day, one or other department of this joke of a government is proven to be calamitously wrong in its basic task of getting anything done.
ReplyDeleteHere's today's hilarious discovery:
"An update to England and Wales's contact tracing app has been blocked for breaking the terms of an agreement made with Apple and Google.
The plan had been to ask users to upload logs of venue check-ins - carried out via poster barcode scans - if they tested positive for the virus. This could be used to warn others.
The update had been timed to coincide with the relaxation of lockdown rules.
But the two firms had explicitly banned such a function from the start.
Under the terms that all health authorities signed up to in order to use Apple and Google's privacy-centric contact-tracing tech, they had to agree not to collect any location data via the software.
As a result, Apple and Google refused to make the update available for download from their app stores"
How many fucking £billions of public money?
…. And just imagine how much money has been wasted on the reunification of the probation service. it is disgraceful how this government together with probation Chiefs and NAPO, Came together to Cause irreversible damage to a once highly credited and Respected service. The words “come on Gerry” from Lancashire still ringing in my head.
DeleteRead 'Failures of State. The Inside Story of Britain's Battle with Coronavirus' - Jonathan Calvert and George Arbuthnott'
ReplyDeleteThere is a really important and urgent debate to be had about how we "manage" sex offenders in the community. This conversation cannot be had while the Probation Service is in the clutches of a politically driven MoJ. Sex offending is the moral panic of our time, and I get why. It was more than time for the abuse that has been inflicted on vulnerable children (and adults) in plain sight, to be addressed, and in these corrections to perception, the pendulum swings the other way. But those of us in the work realise it is more nuanced, and monstering is not helpful. But there is no hope of any sensible progress in the current regime, as the debate is not intelligent
ReplyDeleteI have been shot down in flames over and over again trying to have a calm conversation about this. It requires maturity and authority in our policy makers, but they are chasing the Daily Mail approval ratings, so we will have to bide our time
Pearly Gates
Thankyou Pearly Gates for taking the trouble to address the subject - as you can see it's otherwise attracted zero interest. I'm losing heart with this whole enterprise and coming to the conclusion it's just a fucking waste of time.
DeleteMoronic 'contributions' have forced comment moderation and my covid lockdown sleep pattern now means I retire early and get up early. I've only just read your insightful piece and published it, thus denying any chance of a spontaneous discussion. This venture had successfully resisted concerted efforts to shut it down, but sadly it looks to succumb to morons, widespread disinterest and complete ineptitude by unions and politicians. Have you any idea as to the degree of ignorance and disinterest the Labour Party front bench spokesperson has about the Probation Service?
It's frankly staggering and I'm getting very close indeed to calling it all a day. To be brutally frank the only thing stopping me is a very strong desire to see the union finally deal with its leadership problem and the Labour Party find somebody who actually knows something about the Probation Service and can speak authoritatively about it.
Your entitled to be angry frustrated whatever Jim . I'm with you Napo has no control over the degenerative nature of their policies to NPS run by the oddball team. The current chair has no idea other than to bully and adopt a managerial assertion to everything. You can read the rubbish they put out being signed off by both chair and sec . Sat at home relaxing from a real job on full time off doing nothing to challenge the abuses to staff terms appears effortless. Just as the general secretary sees he does. A lot of hot air no intention to do anything. Members have no rudder or sense of direction and now accept whatever is put on them. The days of dispute are well lost under this Napo scam.
DeletePearly Gates is absolutely right, but there's little chance of grown up conversations to be had anywhere. I think there's a need for grown up conversations on many issues at the moment, but again little chance.
ReplyDeleteI think there's a generic problem that pervades society at the moment that bleeds into, and damages everything from politics to probation, to social work, policing and education.
The problem is the 'corporate' approach to everything, and the people climbing the ladders are those who can 'talk the talk' but have no real idea of how to do the 'walk'.
Often the renumeration that comes to those able to climb the ladder quickly is so excessive, the post they've achieved becomes a position where the primary focus becomes one of self interest and preservation.
The current Cabinet is a prime example. What's their average age? They're not there because of their wealth of political knowledge, or their ability that's been ingrained through years of experience.
Karen Bradley, when Northern Ireland Secretary told the House of commons that she didn't realise that Republicans didn't vote for loyalist polititions and vice versa. For someone in her position to say that is beyond belief.
Yet its happening across the board. People are being caterpulted into very senior positions without the knowledge and experience those positions require, and indeed, should demand.
I also believe that things can only get worse, and I have no idea how the problem can be fixed.
To have grown up conversations about serious issues, you need the people involved in the conversation to have experience, and experience isn't just being lost, it's being actively disregarded and thrown away, exchanged for a nice suit and a language that sounds great but no one knows why their speaking it.
'Getafix
so that's the challenge, Jim, getting a grown up conversation going, while ducking the moronic 'contributions'
DeleteAnd while I do think that a grown up conversation about rehabilitating and 'managing' sex offenders is desperately needed, that of all topics is likely to generate even more moronic comments than many others, and tbh, I wouldnt want to debate using my own name and subsequently getting trolled
I think from what I read JB has done a great job of reducing the odd spat on here. The energy would have been better placed in getting Napo to function properly. I understand the last few agms were a bit rocky and when an able London top table challenger stood for election they made sure their friendly onside guy gets the vice chair role from the controlled NEC selection. We all watched it happen. Napo are corrupted beyond repair.
Deletehttps://thetab.com/uk/2021/03/26/how-are-we-meant-to-feel-safe-legal-loophole-allows-sex-offenders-to-become-bouncers-200495
DeleteA legal loophole allows registered sex offenders to become bouncers on the doors of nightclubs.
DeleteBouncers must have a licence from the Security Industry Authority (SIA) and although they do background checks before giving out licences, those with prior offences are not barred.
According to The Times, the SIA which is a Home Office agency, requires “applicants pass exams on door supervision, conflict management and physical intervention. Identity and criminal record checks are undertaken.”
However The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act means those with prior convictions cannot be refused a job purely because of their criminal history. The exception to this is with the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act which means offenders cannot work with children or vulnerable adults.
As women and club goers are not counted as “vulnerable adults” it means it’s perfectly acceptable for sex offenders to become bouncers in night clubs.
This loophole has been around for a number of years but has only recently been brought to public attention following the death of Sarah Everard.
The Tab spoke to a number of female students who weren’t aware this was the case and are now much more wary about entering clubs in the future.
Sussex student Georgia said she felt this was another example of the government making women feel unsafe.
She told The Tab: “When I go clubbing I am faced with several risks. I worry about leaving my drink unattended and getting spiked or I worry that a man will grope me or touch me in some way that makes me uncomfortable. Now there’s the potential risk of security staff adding to this problem?
“I can’t comprehend it – it should be our right to feel safe at night time but it’s like there is every obstacle in the way possible to prevent this from happening. The government are doing everything in their power to make women feel uncomfortable.”
Southampton student Emily said she already doesn’t feel safe around bouncers and now hearing this has made her even more fearful.
She told The Tab: “How are we meant to feel safe when bouncers could be sex offenders and police officers could be murderers? I’ve never felt easy around bouncers but this is just straight up ridiculous. Guarantee if it were 97 per cent of men who got sexually harassed they would have never let sex offenders be bouncers in the first place.
“Who on earth are we meant to trust when it seems like every person meant to help protect us could potentially bring us harm? Where is the logic?”
Not sure why it's being referred to as a legal loophole? Where exactly is the loophole? Surely it's just the law.
DeleteAlthough the below article relates to America, it raises some interesting questions about dating apps having access to criminal record information:
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/apr/13/tinder-plan-criminal-record-checks