New schemes to improve offenders’ job prospects announced

Alan Johnson, the education and skills secretary, today announced £500,000 funding for two regions to pilot schemes to improve offenders’ skills and job prospects.

The schemes are part of an action plan to boost offender training and employment following last year’s green paper on the issue.

New approaches for getting young offenders back into education will also be piloted later next year.

Johnson said: “At the heart of our reform is the need to tackle the obstacles of low skills and lack of employment opportunities that prevent offenders living crime free lives. By joining up training and labour market needs more closely we can create a win-win situation for employers and offenders while also protecting the public by cutting crime.”