Probation scheme 'a failure' as offenders drop out

A scheme to rehabilitate criminals, costing £100m a year, has been condemned as a failure because three quarters of offenders fail to complete its courses.

A Home Office target to take 30,000 people through the programme has already been lowered to 20,000. But The Independent has learnt that about 50 per cent fail even to start the programme, with another 25 per cent dropping out before finishing the series of about 30 sessions designed to tackle behaviour.

The Home Office is examining complaints that too many minor offenders are being put through inappropriate schemes. Probation Service managers are under pressure to fill courses, fearing their budgets could be cut if they fail to achieve targets.

Martin Narey, the commissioner for correctional services at the Home Office, has asked officials to examine the effectiveness of the Accredited Programme, launched two years ago.

A Home Office source said: "Huge numbers of unsuitable people are being stuffed into the programmes without the support they need, like help with accommodation or finance. It's a crazy idea we shovel people through the machine. I'm afraid it's a dumbing-down of the service."

The programmes begin with psychometric tests and are followed by group sessions tackling such issues as anger management and drink-driving. The aim is to reduce reoffending rates by 15 per cent. But many offenders appear to be put off by the initial tests.

Harry Fletcher, of the National Association of Probation Officers, said: "Intensive group work works for some offenders. But because of the Government's obsession with targets, thousands of offenders with few basic skills are cajoled to attend."

Eithne Wallace, national director of the Probation Service, said the drop-out rates varied, but were improving. "There are things to do to bring the worst courses and the worst places up to the level of the best. We're not saying it's not hard work, but we can do it," she said.

She stressed that the programmes were a small part of the work of the Probation Service, which includes drug treatment and help with finding housing.