The six-year Social Impact Bond (SIB) scheme is the world’s first payment by results pilot involving mentors giving support and guidance to offenders on release from prison.
The pilot – known locally as the ‘One Service’ – targets male prisoners serving sentences of less than 12 months who receive no statutory probation supervision after they’re released.
Prisons and youth justice minister Crispin Blunt, who launched the pilot a year ago, said: “I was really keen to visit Peterborough to see how the scheme was developing and am delighted with the progress to date. Payment by results schemes such as this will reduce reoffending and generate savings that can pay for additional rehabilitation.”
The minister added: ‘We have committed to use what we learn to apply the principles of payment by results with a focus on paying only for what works to all providers by 2015.”
The SIB pilot uses new funding from investors outside Government to reduce reoffending with offenders.
Over the six years the programme will seek to turn around the lives of up to 3,000 offenders released from HMP Peterborough. If re-offending drops by more than 7.5% within six years, investors receive a payment representing a proportion of the cost of re-offending such as the burden to courts, the police, probation services, prisons and social services.
The payment will increase based on the reduction in re-offending with the total cost of the project capped at GB pound 8 million.
Clarke praises anti-corruption work
The UK is actively supporting anti-corruption activities at home and abroad, Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke has stated.
Speaking at the first anti-corruption All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) meeting, the Justice Secretary said the Government was serious about tackling corruption and advocating that other countries raise their standards.
Clarke, who is also the International Anti-Corruption Champion, said: “I take my role as Champion very seriously. Corruption hurts individuals, business, society and development. Bribery and corruption are extremely serious offences which should be punished with the full force of the law.”
The Justice Secretary also welcomed the formation of the new APPG, and praised the increased scrutiny on corruption issues. “Parliamentary scrutiny on this important issue can only be a good thing,” suggested Clarke.