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Making prisoners
homeless pushes them back towards crime, study in North West England
reveals
A woman was forced to live
in a tent after being released from prison because of a lack of
housing support during her time in custody, a report on homelessness
published on 23 December 2013, by the Howard League for Penal Reform
has revealed.
The plight of Shirelle, 36, from Macclesfield, Cheshire, was 1 of a
number of troubling cases uncovered during a study of the problems
faced by homeless people caught up in the criminal justice system in
North West England.
The findings by researcher Dr Vickie Cooper, a senior lecturer in
criminology at Liverpool John Moores University, are published in a
report entitled:- 'No Fixed Abode; The implications for
homeless people in the criminal justice system.'
The report concludes that too many people end up in the prison
system on remand or return to prison because of inappropriate
accommodation.
It calls for the creation of a homelessness forum; between prisons
and local authorities to help prisoners into accommodation and
provide as much housing support as possible.
Most women who were interviewed for the study said that they had
positive experiences of hostels and refuges. However, Dr Cooper
found that there were only 6 hostels for women, compared with 94 for
men, meaning that most women were moved away from their local area
to be accommodated.
66% of women in the study did not originate from the area in which
they were residing when interviewed, compared with 28% of men.
Moving women to new communities can exacerbate feelings of social
exclusion and isolation, and trigger emotional distress, which can
intensify problems associated with offending and draw them back
towards crime.
Some men said that they found the conditions in overcrowded and poor
quality hostels to be even worse than prison. They said that
criminal justice agencies failed to take into account their need for
privacy, responsibility and empowerment.
Dr Vickie Cooper said:- "People leaving prison are
increasingly being disqualified from housing, on the basis of their
rent arrears, anti-social behaviour and making themselves
intentionally homeless. The strict qualification criteria often
results in the exclusion of ex-prisoners from housing, leaving them
with few options but to reside in hostel accommodation. Despite the
number of people living in hostel premises who are in contact with
the criminal justice system, we are bereft of any real understanding
surrounding people's experiences of these premises. This study tries
to capture people's experiences of hostel accommodation and, in so
doing, attempts to situate the role of this accommodation within the
spectrum of the punishment process."
It is difficult to know the true number of homeless people in
contact with the criminal justice system because of a lack of
reliable data. A key reason for this is the failure of prisons to
record when people entering or leaving custody are homeless. This is
compounded by the fact that people often fail to declare their
homeless status to increase their chances of being released on bail
or granted parole.
Since the research was undertaken, the Coalition government
introduced the under occupancy charge, commonly known as the
'bedroom tax', which has increased demand for smaller
properties. It is feared that this will make it harder to find
suitable housing for homeless people who have been in contact with
the criminal justice system, the majority of whom are single.
Frances Crook, Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal
Reform, said:- "Too many men and women end up in prison for
reasons linked to their precarious housing. When people leave
prison, the most important thing is to make sure they never fall
into lives of crime again. When we have excluded people from their
communities we should make sure they can return to a proper home
where they stand a better chance of leading a law-abiding life.
Carting them around the country, away from people they might rely on
for support, or putting them in an overcrowded hostel risks pushing
them back towards crime and putting public safety at risk. New
pressures on local authorities, such as the under occupancy charge
and changes to the way benefits are paid, make this situation all
the more difficult."
The implications for homeless people in the criminal justice system
can be accessed via the Howard League
website.
If you know someone who this affects or have any views on this
topic, good and bad, please do email us to:-
news24@southportreporter.com and let us know what you
really think!
CASE STUDIES...
Shirelle*,
36, residing in an approved premises probation hostel. Shirelle
originally came from Macclesfield, Cheshire. She had been homeless,
on and off, for ten years. She had been in prison eight times over
the last seven years. Prior to going into custody for the 1st time,
Shirelle was housed in a social housing property for 2½ years. Once
in custody, Shirelle lost her accommodation within 2 weeks because
of rent arrears. After release from prison, Shirelle made a homeless
application to her local authority to be rehoused, but she was
deemed intentionally homeless as a result of rent arrears.
Shirelle's prison sentences were all short term. She also spent 4
months on remand and was later acquitted. Shirelle did not receive
any housing support during her time in prison. On 1 occasion, she
was released from prison into a tent. When interviewed, Shirelle was
staying at an approved premises probation hostel. Shirelle had been
living on the streets prior to arriving at the hostel. She had to
register on a drink detox programme as part of the hostel's terms
and conditions. While staying at the hostel, Shirelle was put on a
choice based letting scheme to be rehoused. This scheme advertises
Council and housing association properties available in the locality
so that applicants can 'bid' to view and rent the
property of their choice. Shirelle decided to relocate to the same
vicinity as the hostel. Circumstances in her home area, including
the death of her partner and drug use among the people she knew,
meant she felt there was nothing to go back for. She was due to view
a flat on the day of the interview.
Callum*,
32, prisoner:- "I got recalled in last January and I was in
for 5 months. I got out, went back to a hostel and this is basically
non-residing that I'm coming in for because I don't want to stay in
a probation hostel… they are not helping me. When people say to me
'sum it up what it's like there', I say it's like a strict open
prison. I don't think I should be in a hostel like that where I'm
supervised, where I've got curfews, because I have done my
punishment. I wanted to work and I wasn't allowed to, you know? And
the consequence of it out of my 6½ sentence is that I've done just
over 5 years of my sentence in jail."
Belinda*,
45, residing in a homeless hostel, said:- "They have been
brilliant. They have helped me get a doctor because I am a drug
user. I've only been clean now 2 days so they helped me get a script
with the doctors and they are going to help me go on the house
search next week to get a flat. Yeah, they've been great with me.
They've helped me sort all my benefits out but I know I'm safe and
no one can touch me here. It's just nice to feel safe and have
somewhere to live for a change."
* Names changed to protect identities
Did you know:- The Howard League for Penal Reform is the oldest
penal reform charity in the world. It is a national charity working
for less crime, safer communities and fewer people in prison?
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Half of carers
will not get a break this Christmas, survey reveals
A new survey by local
disability charity Vitalise finds ½ of North West's carers have not
had any time off from caring in past year.
As the UK looks forward to the Christmas festivities, a new survey
by disability charity Vitalise, which runs the Sandpipers respite
break centre in Southport, has found that over ⅔ (69%) of carers
will not get a break from caring this Christmas and that half have
never had a break over the Christmas period.
Worse, an astonishing half of all carers in the North West have not
taken a single day off from caring in the last year; greater than
the UK average of 39%; the survey found.
The study painted a stark picture of the emotional and physical
strain on carers who fail to take breaks from their caring duties.
More than 80% said they put the health of the loved one they care
for before of their own health and almost 60% said a lack of time
away from caring led them to feelings of depression. 60% said long
periods without a break resulted in their getting angry at the
person they care for.
In contrast, when asked about the beneficial effects of respite,
nearly ½ (46%) of all carers surveyed said it made them feel more
able to cope and over a third said they felt happier and healthier.
However, over a fifth (21%) said that afterwards they felt guilty
that they had left a loved one in order to take time off.
The survey also highlighted the barriers preventing carers from
seeking respite. The biggest barrier was shown to be carers concerns
that nobody else would be able to care for their loved ones, with
46%, followed by guilt at leaving them (39%) and worry that they
would not be looked after properly in a care home (23%)
An estimated 6.5 million people; that is 1 in 8 of the adult
population; act as unpaid carers for older, ill or disabled loved
ones in the UK, with around three quarters of a million carers in
the North West region.
Carers UK estimates that carers save the UK economy 119 billion each
year; an average of £18,473 per carer. People providing high levels
of care are twice as likely to be permanently sick or disabled.
625,000 people suffer mental and physical ill health as a direct
consequence of the stress and physical demands of caring.
In response to the surveys findings, Vitalise, which provides
essential short breaks for people with disabilities and carers, is
calling for more effort to raise awareness among carers about the
support available to them, including funding for essential respite
breaks. The charity is also calling for urgent action to address the
issue of quality in respite care in order to assuage carers fears of
respite and encourage more carers to take advantage of respite
opportunities.
In the light of the surveys shock findings, Vitalise will fully fund
50 week long breaks in 2014 for people with disabilities and carers
who have not been able to take any respite in the past year.
Vitalise is funding these breaks from its Joan Brander Memorial
Fund, which was set up in memory of the charity's founder.
Vitalise Sandpipers and the charity's 2 other accessible UK centres
remain open over the Christmas and New Year period to provide an
inclusive Christmas experience for people with disabilities to help
those who might otherwise feel isolated or excluded from the festive
celebrations, and to provide relief for their carers and families at
a particularly stressful time of year.
Vitalise Chief Executive Chris Simmonds said:- "This survey
paints quite a shocking picture of the reality of life today for the
millions of unpaid family carers in the UK. Whats depressing is that
it hasnt revealed anything Vitalise hasnt known for some time. Many
carers dont even know they are carers, so they are not claiming the
support thats available to them and they are at dire risk of burning
out as a result. Even the carers who know they are entitled to
support are not taking breaks because they are terrified of what
might happen to their loved ones if they do. They simply have no
confidence in the quality or suitability of the respite care on
offer. It makes no economic sense to leave carers unsupported. They
already save the economy billions each year and it costs far less in
the long run to provide ongoing support for carers than to pick up
the pieces when they break down from the strain. Vitalise has been
supporting families affected by disability for 50 years and what we
have found is that carers worries can be eased if they know their
loved ones will receive quality care and a stimulating respite
experience during their time in the care of others. Its really not
too much to ask. Unless the fundamental issue of quality in respite
care is addressed, this strain on carers will only get worse. Access
to regular, good quality respite breaks for people with disabilities
and those who care for them should not be considered a luxury but an
absolute essential in enabling families affected by disability to
carry on coping."
Vitalise is a national charity providing essential breaks for people
with disabilities and carers. Vitalise provides essential short
breaks in a holiday environment for people with disabilities;
including Alzheimers and dementia, along with carers at Sandpipers
and 2 other accessible UK centres, with 24 hour nursing care on
call, personal support and a range of accessible excursions,
activities and entertainment.
Vitalise was founded in 1963 as the Winged Fellowship Trust by the
late Joan Brander MBE. The charity created the blueprint for the
modern concept of respite care in a holiday environment. Vitalise
also runs one of the largest volunteering programmes of any UK
charity, offering thousands of individuals each year the opportunity
to support and socialise with the people with disabilities taking
respite breaks at Vitalises centres.
People with disabilities and carers wanting more advice and
information about Vitalise breaks are requested to call:- 0303 303
0145, by email:-
bookings@vitalise.org.uk or
visiting their website at:-
vitalise.org.uk.
Online tax tool
helps taxpayers work out residence
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
has launched an online tool to help people determine their residence
status for tax purposes. The Tax Residence Indicator (TRI) asks
people a number of questions before telling them what their status
is. It has been introduced as part of the statutory residence test,
introduced in April 2013. The test gives people who may move in and
out of the UK greater clarity and certainty over their residence
status. HMRC's new tool allows people to go onto the HMRC
website, input their personal details, and quickly establish whether
they should be paying tax in the UK. The people potentially affected
include expatriates, pilots, cabin crew and cruise workers, rig
workers, foreign students, health workers, seasonal workers and
others. Specialist Personal Tax Director Mary Aiston said:-
"It is important that people who come and go from the UK keep
records that are readily available. Their residence status is
assessed according to time spent in the UK, in conjunction with
their other ties to the country. The old statutory residence rules
were complex and lacked clarity, with the definition of tax
residence resting on legal cases decided in the courts over a long
period. The new residence test is clearer."
The residence status of most people is expected to remain the same
under the new residence test. To help people with more complex
living and working arrangements, HMRC has published guidance online
at:–
hmrc.gov.uk/international/rdr3.pdf.
Also you can get extra information as UK Taxpayers can also now find
the new tool online at:-
hmrc.gov.uk/rift. |
