Roles available for new service helping female offenders find a future away from crime

A service that tackles the underlying causes of offending behaviour, such as mental health and substance misuse, is working to improve the experience and outcomes for female offenders within the criminal justice system across North Wales.

Commissioned by the Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, Andy Dunbobbin, Checkpoint, uses out of court disposals and offender management principles to provide a credible alternative to prosecution.

It does so by identifying and supporting relevant needs and the ‘critical pathways’ out of crime. This means that low and medium adult offenders are diverted away from the Criminal Justice System (or exit the Criminal Justice System at an earlier stage), while also addressing the underlying causes of their offending behaviour.

The new service builds on similar services in the region that have been developed since 2013, when parliament’s Justice Select Committee Inquiry into Women Offenders found that more needed to be done to improve the experience of women in the Criminal Justice System nationally.

Since then, support has increased to help women access assistance and support successfully, including advice on housing, accommodation and education so that they can make positive changes to their own lives and the lives of their families, and the new women’s service from Checkpoint will expand on this service provision.

Checkpoint has already seen much success since its launch in North Wales in its work with male offenders.

Over 400 individuals were referred to the wider Checkpoint programme in 2021/22 and successfully completed their programme. Since then, more than 96% of these people have not been charged with another offence.

Now its looking to replicate the same positive results with the more specialised women’s service focusing on female offenders.

One service user who has worked with Checkpoint commented: “The help and guidance I received from checkpoint helped me weed out a lot of issues that were causing me problems.”

Another said: “I’ve really appreciated the support I have received from Checkpoint. It has given me an opportunity to talk about my depression and mental health it highlighted what human compassion looked like.”

As part of its launch of the women’s service, Checkpoint is recruiting specialist Navigators.

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, Andy Dunbobbin

These are individuals who prepare, co-ordinate and deliver the individually tailored support programmes and help offenders to engage with support services to tackle the underlying causes of their offending.

Positions are available in Llay, Caernarfon and St Asaph.

Andy Dunbobbin, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, said: “I am pleased to see Checkpoint launch their new women’s service in North Wales.

“Their expertise and past success as an organisation in helping support people who have been through the criminal justice system from reoffending is clear to see.

“A fair and effective criminal justice system was a key pledge in my Police and Crime Plan that I put together following my election. Since then, last year we launched a Women’s Justice Strategy to further help address the causes of females offending in North Wales and to make a genuine difference to women’s lives, reduce their involvement with the criminal justice system, and cut crime.

“This latest development is another step in giving support to women involved in the criminal justice system, so that they are able to live a life away from crime.

“The programme will still mean that people have pay back to society for their crimes, but in a way that also recognises many of the underlying issues that cause criminality in the first place.”

Anna Baker, Checkpoint Cymru Critical Pathways Manager, said: “I have been very proud of the work that has been achieved with men since Checkpoint came into being in 2019.

“Many of those we have supported have expressed gratitude in helping them address the issues that led to their offending and helping them to divert out of the criminal justice system. This in turn has contributed to safer communities and less demand on our frontline police and other vital services.

“To be awarded additional funding to expand our work with women is an excellent step forward for us, and recognition of the positive impact made by the programme to date.

“I believe we will be able to achieve equal measures of success with women, having a team of experienced female navigators that can provide gender specific support along with a holistic and robust care plan. We would love to hear from people who want to make a difference to other people, helping communities and join our brilliant team!”

To find out more about the roles available with Checkpoint (closing date 16/07), visit: Checkpoint Cymru Critical Pathways Navigator – Police Jobs Wales