Scheme to tackle non-violent crime

The Prolific and Other Priority Offenders Intensive (PI) programme targets non-violent serial offenders, who would otherwise face a prison sentence.

Offenders must admit all their previous wrongdoings and demonstrate a genuine desire to avoid a life of crime.

If they commit a crime while on PI – or fail to complete it – they will be sent back to court and sentenced for all the crimes they have confessed to.

Potential PI participants are identified by Bedfordshire Police and Probation Trust, but all final decisions about sentencing and selection on the programme are the responsibility of Crown Court judges.

While on PI, offenders will be subject to strict supervision and monitoring while they undergo extensive rehabilitation such as drug and alcohol treatment and support in gaining employment.

The scheme is one of three strands of the recently launched Bedfordshire Integrated Offender Management approach, which works with offenders to look at why they commit crime and help them make changes to lead a crime-free life.

Linda Hennigan, chief executive of Bedfordshire Probation Trust and chairman of Bedfordshire Integrated Offender Management, said: “The public needs a long-term solution to the reduction of crime rather than the vicious cycle of offending, prison, reoffending.

“PI is a demanding programme that challenges offenders to make difficult lifestyle changes with swift and tough retribution if they don’t.”

PI has been demonstrated to reduce the numbers of burglary victims and other serious acquisitive offences in the long-term.