Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people in prison (1) enrolled, and (2) completed, an offending behaviour course in each year since 2000.
Answered on
10 June 2021
National data on all prisoner enrolments (starts) and completions of prison delivered accredited offending behaviour programmes (OBPs) is collected and published annually. The latest available data goes up to and includes March 2019. Data up to and including March 2020 is due to be published shortly by the Ministry of Justice. This data will include some individuals who may have attended more than one accredited programme over time. Data on starts and completions before 2010 is not available, and the data available does not break-down information further by those currently in custody, or by sentence type.
Data shown in the tables below identify the number of enrolments (starts) in Table 1 and the completions each year over the same period in Table 2. The data shows a general maintained level of sexual offending programmes delivered over time. However, for other accredited offending behaviour programmes there has been a reduction in the volumes delivered.
Accredited programmes have significantly changed over time from a range of shorter programmes to more intensive specialist programmes which take longer to deliver and target prisoners with a medium and higher risk of reoffending. In 2011, responsibility for commissioning substance misuse programmes moved to the NHS resulting in a reduction in delivered volumes of accredited programmes. The changes have decreased the volume of places available, but places are better aligned to demands and the evidence base which suggests accredited programmes are most effective when targeted at cohorts with medium and higher risk of reoffending.
Table 1: Number of starts for OBPs in custody between the years ending March 2010 and March 2019, England and Wales
Year | Offending Behaviour Programmes | Sexual Offender Treatment Programmes | Substance Misuse Programmes | TOTAL |
2010 | 8,209 | 1,153 | 10,166 | 19,528 |
2011 | 8,752 | 1,189 | 8,901 | 18,842 |
2012 | 8,607 | 1,162 | 7,330 | 17,099 |
2013 | 7,977 | 1,077 | 3,320 | 12,374 |
2014 | 7,179 | 934 | 882 | 8,995 |
2015 | 6,937 | 1,056 | 724 | 8,717 |
2016 | 6,373 | 1,113 | 458 | 7,944 |
2017 | 6,185 | 1,141 | 362 | 7,688 |
2018 | 4,979 | 1,022 | 147 | 6,148 |
2019 | 4,504 | 1,154 | 169 | 5,827 |
Table 2: Number of completions for OBPs in custody between the years ending March 2010 and March 2019, England and Wales
Year | Offending Behaviour Programmes | Sexual Offender Treatment Programmes | Substance Misuse Programmes | TOTAL |
2010 | 7,339 | 1,130 | 7,630 | 16,099 |
2011 | 7,757 | 1,191 | 6,968 | 15,916 |
2012 | 7,692 | 1,166 | 5,943 | 14,801 |
2013 | 7,374 | 1,034 | 2,708 | 11,116 |
2014 | 6,390 | 877 | 749 | 8,016 |
2015 | 6,047 | 947 | 597 | 7,591 |
2016 | 5,545 | 1,144 | 368 | 7,057 |
2017 | 5,479 | 1,150 | 331 | 6,960 |
2018 | 4,403 | 993 | 122 | 5,518 |
2019 | 3,958 | 1,114 | 145 | 5,217 |
Table note: As with any data derived from large-scale recording systems, the figures are subject to possible errors with data migration and processing.
Source: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/873346/accredited-programmes-prisons-2018-19-march-2020-update.XLSX
The Government’s primary responsibility is to protect the public. Accredited programmes aim to protect the public and reduce reoffending and are part of a range of rehabilitation opportunities available. HM Prison and Probation Service remains committed to supporting the progression of those serving IPP and life sentences in custody, so that the Parole Board may direct their release as soon as it is safe to do so.