Ex-offenders who have been given a second chance in life can be of value to an employer, the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) annual Business Crime Summit heard last night.
The online event heard from Darren Burns, National Recruitment Ambassador at the locksmiths and key-cutting high street chain Timpson. It’s one of the largest employers of ex-offenders in the UK, with around 12 per cent of its staff having a criminal record.
The Labour PCC Simon Foster opened the event. He said: “It’s important that people who have served their time are given a second chance. If we are to break the cycle of crime, and ensure people have the opportunity to make a positive contribution to society and start paying taxes, then we need to enable them to find a job and help them to be net contributors to society.
“I’m delighted so many firms have agreed to take part in the summit. My intention is to convince as many of them as possible that people with a criminal record can make great employees and need a second chance.”
After hearing from speakers on the fair and safe recruitment of ex-offenders, the summit attenders were asked to take part in workshops to help design and sign up to the PCC’s Fresh Chances Charter – an agreement with businesses to employ ex-offenders.
Earlier, the PCC chief financial officer (CFO) Mark Kenyon set out the West Midlands Police force’s finances for 2022-23. Of the total £641m, about £578m, or four-fifths, as in other forces, goes on police pay, compared with £10m on transport and £19m on premises. Since 2010, the Birmingham-based force has suffered a real term grant reduction of £175m, he said. While West Midlands will look to set a £10 increase in the police precept, which will raise £8.8m fro council tax payers, that compares with ‘unavoidable’ costs of around £21m mainly due to inflation, for example on fuel.
More in the March print edition of Professional Security magazine.
