Circles of Support and Accountability. A community approach to the rehabilitation of Sex Offenders Maxine Myatt, Interim Chief Executive, Circles UK

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1 Circles of Support and Accountability A community approach to the rehabilitation of Sex Offenders Maxine Myatt, Interim Chief Executive, Circles UK

2 Restoring the individual I have met a group of caring people who are prepared to accept that I am more than the sum of offences and accept for who I am Core Member, Yorkshire and Humberside Circles Criminal justice is about laws, guilt and sanctions; restorative justice is about emotional, physical, material harms and what can be done to make amends for them T Newell 2000

3 Number of convicted sex offenders in jail reaches record high A slap in the face for abuse victims: anger as thousands of pounds to be spent on helping paedophiles when they come out of prison PAEDOPHILE PIMP FOR THE ROYALS 'Radioactive' paedophile suspect on the run after skipping court Dark Justice: The vigilante paedophile hunters who revel in 'football factory' stings Glitter arrested, now who s next? Sex fiend is snared by sick abuse snaps

4 Our mission Circles UK seeks greater public protection by working towards a substantial reduction in sexual offending by providing a range of services to local Circles of Support and Accountability Projects. Further, it aims to develop a greater public understanding of community approaches to public protection.

5 Circles Projects GREATER MANCHESTER CIRCLES Probation Trust, Community Chaplaincy CHESHIRE Probation Trust NORTH WALES COSA CAIS (Cyngor Alcohol Information Service) with Probation support CUMBRIA CIRCLES Cumbria Reducing Offending Partnership Trust commissioned by Probation Trust LUCY FAITHFULL FOUNDATION (MIDLANDS) West Mids, West Mercia, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Shropshire LFF in partnership with Probation, Heanton Housing CIRCLES NORTH EAST Northumbria, Durham, Teesside Partnership between Police, Probation & Barnardo s SAFER LIVING FOUNDATION Charity within Whatton Prison YORKSHIRE & HUMBERSIDE COSA Charity status LEICESTERSHIRE & RUTLAND CIRCLES Probation Trust CIRCLES EAST Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk Probation Trust (formerly SOVA) CIRCLES CYMRU Probation Trust, G4S (Parc Prison), Police, NW COSA CIRCLES SOUTH WEST Avon & Somerset, Devon & Cornwall, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire Charity Status CIRCLES SOUTH EAST Thames Valley, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex, Kent Charity Status RESPOND Under 25s Learning Difficulties

6 Our Core Members Most Core Members were living on their own (42%) or in Approved Premises (36%) Three quarters were unemployed (76.8%), the majority were claiming benefits (88.6%) & around one fifth had debts (18.5%) One fifth reported mental health difficulties but few were receiving psychiatric input

7 Our Core Members Mean age 45.7 years. The youngest 18 and the oldest 86 The majority were White British (96.6%) Most not in stable relationship - had never married (49.4%) or were divorced or separated (41.6%) Education levels varied

8 Rigour and humanity Code of Practice Quality assurance and audit Rigorous volunteer selection Training Coordinators Peer support throughout life of Circle Close liaison with Statutory Public Protection Agencies

9 Statutory Agency view The volunteers are under no illusions that they are dealing with dangerous individuals who pose a significant risk to the public, and from my experience the volunteers have managed those individuals robutsly, even when it has been evident that the Core Member is actively trying to groom the volunteers; they have ensured the Core Member is accountable for their past and future actions. A Police Public Protection Officer (from a Yorkshire and Humberside Circle report)

10 Rebuilding lives More Core Members were in a relationship (20.4% compared with 14.3%) Fewer Core Members were unemployed (67.4% compared with 75.4%) Fewer Core Members were claiming benefits (82.9% compared with 88.4%) Accommodation status improved for some. More were living with a partner, family or on their own

11 Achievements Challenges and Plans 137 Circles (72 in 2012) 1024 >2500 Volunteers International expansion Circles4EU/ Australia National coverage - Lottery funding for 200 Circles Additional services for those with Intellectual Disabilities and for Young People with Harmful Sexual Behaviours National resource for research and knowledge capital

12 National recognition Ministry of Justice recognition NOMS commissioning intentions highlight Circles as promising model for reducing reoffending Longford Award 2010 National Charity Award 2011 Safer Living Foundation Robert Corbett Award 2015

13 A prisoner s plea I owe it to my victims to do everything in my power to change but I find myself still having inappropriate thoughts about young girls. As it stands I will not be able to start (a treatment programme) until I am scared of the waiting time and the detrimental effect of having to wait. I am scared of failing and not being able to control myself. Whilst I am totally honest with Probation I d like to be able to talk without fear of being judged or needing to provide answers just to tick boxes A prisoner from HMP Littlehey in a letter to Circles UK