East Midlands: Frequent offenders

Allister Craddock
The Politics Show
East Midlands

Leicester is one of the most overcrowded UK prisons

The East Midlands Politics Show investigates the amount of crime committed by prolific offenders.

Tackling the sheer scale of their offending is a key challenge for the authorities as our prisons face an overcrowding crisis.

Leicester Gaol, for instance, was designed to house 200 prisoners.

In fact it has 345 inmates, making it one of the four most overcrowded prisons in the UK.

Leicestershire and Rutland Probation Services have set up a special team to crack down on 350 serial offenders.

Marie Ashby will hear from a senior probation officer on how they have had a dramatic impact on the level of their offending in the 14 months the team has been in operation.

And the Politics Show will also reveal how an astonishingly high percentage of prolific offenders have problems with heroin or crack cocaine.

With the level of crime and drug abuse so closely connected, Political Editor John Hess, looks at a radical new approach to help drug addicts in Derby.

The city will soon boast the first dedicated health care unit for addicts in the Midlands.

They will not only have access to specialist GPs within 48 hours, they will also get help from other agencies in the same centre.

It is a commitment that is welcomed by Lee Collingham of the Methadone Alliance. He will tell Marie Ashby how he decided to commit serious crime to get help with his drug addiction.

He claims it was the only way he could spend long enough in prison to qualify for a drugs treatment programme.

Also on the Politics Show

Robin Powell has a special report on the problems faced by migrant workers in Lincolnshire.

The Reverend David de Verny, a chaplain to the migrant community, says many of them are living in appalling conditions.

A report commissioned by South Holland district and Boston borough councils has called on the Government to increase the area's housing allocation.

The Chief Executive of South Holland District Council, Terry Huggins, says the area needs hostel accommodation for temporary migrants, and more housing for the indigenous local population as well as for migrants who now want to settle here.

Marie Ashby Presenter

Join presenter Marie Ashby on the Politics Show on Sunday 02 July 2006 at 12:00 on BBC One.

Let us know what you think

Ring us with your views on 0500 900 900 or email on the form below

---