Reducing reoffending
We care for a complex population of both men and women, recognising the unique needs of both. Whilst ensuring we provide a safe and decent environment for our prisoners, we empower them to believe that they can change and think positively about their future. All of our members of staff - regardless of their position - understand the powerful role they play in making a difference.
We provide prisoners with access to a wide variety of education and training courses to help them improve their skills, motivation, self-esteem and employment opportunities while in our care.
As part of our commitment to providing a supportive, rehabilitative environment, we work in partnership with a multitude of local and national agencies, volunteer and community groups.
Our aim is to change lives for the better by reducing reoffending and risk of harm. Our community and agency links enable us to provide prisoners with the support and encouragement they need to make positive choices for their future.
Nine pathways for reducing reoffending
We focus on nine pathways for reducing reoffending. Find out more about each pathway.
We focus on nine pathways for reducing reoffending, helping to ensure that prisoners have as much support as possible to help them make a successful transition to the community
- Accommodation - prisoners should have suitable, sustainable and safe accommodation arranged prior to release.
- Education, training and employment - give prisoners appropriate skills and support to gain appropriate education, training or employment on release.
- Health (including mental health) - prisoners with continuing health and social care needs are prepared and assisted to access services in the community prior to their release.
- Drugs and alcohol - prisoners with drug/alcohol needs are prepared for release and have access to appropriate support and continued treatment in the community.
- Finance, benefit and debt - prisoners with financial commitments/needs are identified and receive effective advice and support to manage them whilst in custody.
- Children and families - prisoners are encouraged to re-establish or maintain relationships with their children and families where it is appropriate. Pregnant women and women with children are fully supported throughout their time at the prison by appropriately trained custody staff.
- Attitudes, thinking and behaviour - prisoners have access to interventions that produce a positive and demonstrable change in attitudes, thinking and behaviour.
- Domestic abuse - prisoners who have been the victim of abuse, rape or domestic violence are identified and supported to address their specific need. We also aim to reduce the risk of reoffending for those who have been perpetrators of domestic abuse.
- Sex workers - prisoners who disclose their involvement or are known to be involved in prostitution are given access to information and support to address their specific needs.
Partnerships
We recognise the importance of working in partnership, both internally and externally, with agencies and community based services.
We recognise that partnerships bring specialist expertise, knowledge and commitment, reflecting the values of the local communities they serve. Our resettlement work recognises the importance of working in partnership, both internally and externally, with agencies and community based services.
We are proud that we maintained our relationships during the transition of Transforming Rehabilitation as well as establishing new relationships with our CRC partners and their supply chain. We work collaboratively to ensure the services and support are both maximised and centred on the individual and their unique needs.
Custody provides a good opportunity to start initiating personal goals through sentence planning, but it is important that progress towards achievement is not lost at the point of release into the community. Therefore, continuing engagement through the gate is critical.
Family Matters
At HMP Peterborough we are dedicated to helping reduce the risk of re-offending by ensuring that all relationships are not only maintained, but strengthened through contact and creating a sense of purpose while in custody.
We recognise that 'good' family contact plays an important role in supporting prisoners on their rehabilitative path, as well as helping to reduce the anxiety, frustration and isolation that can be experienced while in custody. Our dedicated Family Matters team visit every prisoner within the first few days following their arrival at the prison. Through this we are able to establish whether individuals have any family connections that can provide support, or if they need any assistance in trying to reconnect with family members, working with both internal and external agencies to facilitate this.
The Family Matters team offers 1-2-1 support for all prisoners, which individuals can request via the kiosk system. Alternatively, they can be referred by internal or external agencies who feel they would benefit from engaging with the team. The assistance available ranges from general support to liaising with social services, courts and adoption teams. The team are able to supervise contact with family members and also deliver a five-week parenting programme for residents.
For prisoners whose family relationships have become strained or damaged, the Family Matters team offer a Restorative Families service, bringing parties together to help resolve conflicts and issues.
To support family ties during a prisoner’s sentence the team organise five Family Days per year. This helps to bring family members and the prisoner together in a relaxed atmosphere, strengthening the ties and reducing the feelings of disconnection that can be experienced. At the earliest opportunity we identify whether a prisoner would be eligible for childcare ROTL (Release on Temporary Licence) - this may be considered if they have sole responsibility for a child or children under the age of 16. We also liaise with families of prisoners to assist them in attending sentence planning boards and internal reviews carried out regarding the behaviour and care of their family member.
Support is provided to Care Leavers who come into custody; the team establish contact with their personal advisor within the community to maintain interaction, liaising with the local authority regarding their entitlements if the individual doesn’t already have a personal advisor.
Outside Links
Outside Links offers ‘beyond the gate’ support to former prisoners, helping them to access the services they need to successfully settle back into the community.
Following release, Outside Links offers ‘beyond the gate’ support to former prisoners, helping them to access the services they need to successfully settle back into the community.
We work with a range of partners, including CRCs, to provide support each weekday and at vulnerable times such as Christmas Day and bank holidays. Each week we offer a ‘Women only Wednesday’.
Outside Links service locations
We provide our Outside Links service in the following locations:
- Peterborough - HMP Peterborough Visits Centre
(08:30 – 10:15 Monday to Friday) - Peterborough - YMCA Timestop on Wellington Street, Peterborough
(10:30 – 17:00 Monday to Friday)
Funded by Cambridgeshire Constabulary, the following locations also provide support to those on conditional caution:
- Cambridge – Porta Cabin at the YMCA Queen Anne House, Gonville Place, Cambridge
(10:00 – 15:30 on Tuesdays) - Huntingdon – Brunel House, Ermine Street, Huntingdon
(09:30 – 15:30 on Wednesdays) - Wisbech – The Boathouse Business Centre, 1 Harbour Square, Wisbech
(10:00 – 16:00 on Mondays)
Freephone support line
We offer a Freephone support line that is available Monday to Friday from 10:30 to 17:00. For assistance call 0800 587 7745 or 07789 615048.
Just leave a message, including your contact details, and we will call you back.
Sodexo Quality of Life Services
Sodexo provides Quality of Life services that have an impact on six dimensions