£7.7m mentoring programmes to tackle reoffending

THE Scottish Government has pledged £7.7 million to tackle reoffending.

The funding, which have been boosted by £2m from the Robertson Trust, will pay for six mentoring programmes.

They include one for women offenders, another for men, and four regional initiatives.

The Scottish Government believes one to one, practical support, will help people who spend their lives going in and out of prison.

Speaking at the launch of the funding, at HMP Edinburgh, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: “Although crime in Scotland is now at a 37 year low, re-offending rates remain stubbornly high.

“Without the right support, those leaving prison will all too often end up back behind bars – in some cases, time and time again.

“We need to break that cycle so that offenders make a more meaningful contribution to society, enter a life free of crime and stop our communities suffering from the impact of their repeat offending.”