Youth justice: London to target reoffending rates

The Home Office launched the London Resettlement Strategy last week; it will initially be piloted at Wormwood Scrubs adult prison.

Public, private and voluntary groups will work with offenders to help their reintegration into the community, by focusing on accommodation issues and problems with sustainable employment.The strategy will also address issues linked to reoffending, such as drug dependency, mental health and debt.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: "The scheme is a joined-up effort to ensure young offenders get back into the community." She added: "This is the first phase in developing London's Reducing Reoffending Action Plan and sets the direction for all those working with offenders, mapping the way forward at a national, regional and local level."