Police launch new scheme to help offenders turn their lives around.

Police in Devon are hoping to break the behavioural cycle of persistent offenders and help them turn their lives around.

The TurnAround Integrated Offender Management (IOM) scheme has been launched by the police and partner agencies.

It aims to help offenders, particularly those who have repeatedly served short term sentences of less than 12 months,

The new scheme replaces the Prolific and Priority Offender (PPO) Scheme and achieved a reduction of 19 per cent in reoffending between 2009/2010 and 2010/2011.

Ian Ansell, the assistant chief officer and joint integrated offender Management Lead, said: “The TurnAround IOM Team is dedicated to finding ways to stop prolific offenders from continuing to commit crime.”

The work will be based from six hubs across Devon and Cornwall and offenders will be given the opportunity to turn their lives around from drugs, alcohol, homelessness, criminal activity and help them get back into work.

Offenders will work with partner agencies particular from the voluntary and community sector.

Mr Ansell added: “Ideally this will mean offenders choose to accept the support they’re offered which will help them to find a lifestyle away from crime.

“Where offenders continue to commit crime, swift enforcement action will be taken to protect the community.”