A NEW initiative to reduce re-offending has been launched to tackle the problem in the Redcar and Cleveland area.

A team of specialists will be working closely with offenders to help them turn their lives around by challenging and changing their behaviour.

The project has seen Cleveland Police join forces with the probation, Crime Reduction Initiatives (CRI) and health Services as well Holme House Prison to form a new Integrated Offender Management (IOM) scheme to address the problem.

Offenders are closely supervised and monitored at the same time as being offered support and advice to address issues such as drug and alcohol misuse which often drives their offending.

Keith Norman, director of offender services said: "The team focuses on prolific and priority offenders and other active criminals who are classed as high crime causers. These people are relatively few in number but they cause the most harm to communities and it's the job of the IOM Scheme partners to stop them re-offending.

"Police and Probation have significantly reduced re-offending in the area and there is evidence from around the country that integrating the services offenders need to mend their ways offers a tangible way out of crime."

Based in South Bank, Operation Mantle is designed to reduce the number of people affected by crime by managing repeat offenders in a positive way.

Holme House Prison is involved with the careful management of people in the run up to their release from prison.

Prison Governor Matt Spencer said: "This is an effective way to target offenders to reduce their rate of re-offending and it will reduce the number of victims of crime - this has to be good for everyone concerned."

And Clair Dowgill, service manager from the local CRI Redcar service, added: "We are very excited to be taking next steps in the partnership work that has built up between local police and probation to provide the focussed and coordinated interventions that we know can reduce crime and make our communities safer for all."