This in from the police, in their own words. Ed
Four members of Sweden’s police force have spent three days with officers and staff from Hampshire Constabulary to find out more about a successful multi-agency working approach that is being undertaken in the county.
The Integrated Offender Management scheme helps and manages offenders at high risk of re-offending through a multi agency partnership approach.
The main agencies involved include: The Probation Service, Hampshire Constabulary, Society of St James, Community Safety Partnerships, and Housing Providers. The group covered by the scheme includes prolific and priority offenders and offenders released from periods of short-term imprisonment.
A similar scheme is to be introduced in Stockholm and officers from the city have travelled to Hampshire to observe how it could benefit offenders and the wider community.
Detective Superintendent Anna Ohlsson led the Swedish delegates. Commenting on what they hoped to learn from the Integrated Offender Management scheme she said:
“We have noticed they have succeeded much more than we have. We wanted to observe and learn their experience[s] and how they have done it and the structure of it.”
She also explained why the team chose to observe the scheme in Hampshire:
“We can see it’s an area that is similar to Stockholm by inhabitants and crimes and so on. We didn’t want to go to an area where it wasn’t similar to the one we are working in.”
Hampshire Constabulary IOM Development Manager, Keith Fincham said:
“We are delighted that the Integrated Offender Management programme has garnered international interest, especially in relation to the successful multi-agency approach that has been taken.
“The work that we’ve undertaken with regard to reducing reoffending and keeping our communities safe through the project has been very rewarding. I’m delighted that our colleagues from Sweden have been able to learn from our experiences and have highlighted excellence in our work.”
Photo: Front: Anna Ohlsson (Detective Superintendent), Sami Korhonen (Inspector/Detective), Peter Andersson (Inspector/Detective), Lena Svensson (Criminal Analyst). Rear; PC Liam Davies -IOM Central Operations, Keith Fincham – Hampshire Constabulary IOM Development Manager
