PCD 1852 Adult Women’s Diversion Scheme: Acceptance of Funds from London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Executive Summary:  

This Decision seeks approval for the continuation of funding arrangements for the Adult Women’s Diversion Scheme in the Central East BCU Area (Tower Hamlets and Hackney).  

Diversion provision in this BCU was launched in June 2023 (DMPC Decision 1435) and funding was extended by PCD 1683 until 31 March 2025. The London Borough of Tower Hamlets, in collaboration with MOPAC, is now intending to extend provision for a further twelve months until 31 March 2026. The delivery of this will happen as an integrated part of the London Women in CJS service. 

This decision seeks approval to receive funding from Tower Hamlets to the value of £60,603.  

The Diversion Scheme aims to divert women that have committed a low-level offence away from entering the Criminal Justice System. Where appropriate, these women are issued with a Police Conditional Caution, requiring them to engage with local gender-specific support services.  

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to:    

1. Approve the acceptance of £60,603 funding from London Borough of Tower Hamlets for the extension of the Adult Women’s Diversion Service in the Central East BCU through a variation to extend the existing Service Level Agreement for twelve months, ending on 31 March 2026.  

2. Approve varying MOPAC’s existing Memorandum of Understanding with HMPPS to increase MOPAC’s contribution to the existing co-commissioned arrangements by £60,603.  

3. Grant delegated authority to the Chief Finance Officer to sign future documents in relation to this Decision, including contracts and variations.  

PART I - NON-CONFIDENTIAL FACTS AND ADVICE TO THE DMPC 

1. Introduction and background  

1. In September 2019, MOPAC launched the Adult Women’s Diversion Pilot operating in Central North and Central South BCUs, which in December 2022 became an integrated part of the Co-Commissioned London Women in CJS service. The Adult Women’s Diversion Scheme was extended from BCUs Central North and Central South to BCU Central East, which covers the areas of Tower Hamlets and Hackney, on 1 July 2023. Additional funding was provided from Tower Hamlets Council for continued operational service of the Women’s Diversion Scheme in BCU Central East, covering the period 1 July 2024 to 31 March 2025. 

2. The Adult Women’s Diversion Scheme is now an integrated element of the wider co-commissioned London Women in CJS service delivered by Advance and Women in Prison, with the contract held by the Ministry of Justice. By integrating the Adult Women’s Diversion Scheme into the wider London Women in CJS service, a sustainable Whole Systems Approach has been implemented to address the underlying causes of the woman’s offending behaviour, through a holistic package of rehabilitative support, tailored to the individual needs of the woman. The Adult Women’s Diversion Scheme component, is aimed at seeing fewer women entering the Criminal Justice System, going into prison custody and reoffending. It is at the entry point of the CJS, providing the police and the Crown Prosecution Service with a robust alternative pathway as opposed to prosecution and conviction of these women through the courts. 

2. Issues for consideration  

1. There is now agreement for Tower Hamlets to continue funding of the Adult Women’s Service in BCU Central East for a further twelve months, to cover the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. The additional funding allows for continuation of a full-time Key Worker, contracted to support a total target of 32 women accessing the service.  

2. Although Tower Hamlets is not formally part of co-commissioned arrangements with MOPAC,  MoJ, NHS and Lambeth council, it is party to governance arrangements, providing consistency of service delivery and parity of offer for women arrested in Tower Hamlets and Hackney. 

3. This funding will support a continued focus on the links between women’s complex needs and the risk of drug related offences to enable Tower Hamlets to demonstrate how the service meets its substance abuse objectives. This is in line with the existing provision of the Women in CJS service. 

4. Funding of £60,603 will be accepted from Tower Hamlets and passed on, in full, to HMPPS so that this additional capacity for women’s diversion can be included in the Women in CJS contract. 

3. Financial Comments  

1. This decision requests approval to accept £60,603 from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets for one year covering 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, for continuance of the Adult Women’s Diversion Scheme operating in BCU Central East.  

2. Following acceptance of the additional funding from Tower Hamlets, a Letter of Extension will be signed by MOPAC and Tower Hamlets Council to update the existing Service Agreement. 

3. The MoU with the HMPPS and co-commissioner partners, will then be updated accordingly and the additional funding transferred to HMPPS who hold the contract with service providers.  

4. The 2025/26 budget will be updated to reflect the additional income and expenditure following the contribution of £60,603 from Tower Hamlets. 

4. Legal Comments  

1. Paragraph 4.8 of the MOPAC Scheme of Delegation and Consent provides that the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (DMPC) has authority to approve offers made for grant funding.   

2. The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 at sections 17(1) (a)to (c) places MOPAC under a duty to exercise its functions with due regard to the likely effect of the exercise of those functions on, and the need to do all it can to prevent, crime and disorder (including anti-social and other behaviour adversely affecting the local environment), reoffending in its area, and the misuse of drugs, alcohol and other substances in its area. The proposed arrangements are consistent with MOPAC’s duties in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. 

5. Commercial Issues  

1. This Decision seeks approval from the DMPC to: 

1. Approve accepting income from LBTH of £60,603 through a variation to extend the existing Service Level Agreement which will be accepted via a Letter of Extension of the Service Level Agreement issued by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and will involve a change notice process.  

2. Approve varying MOPAC’s existing Memorandum of Understanding with HMPPS to increase uplift MOPAC’s contribution to the existing co-commissioned arrangements by the same duration and value reflected in the income acceptance agreement. 

5.2      In accordance with 4.8 of MOPAC’s Scheme of Consent and Delegation, the DMPC can approve the acceptance of inward donations and offers of funding into MOPAC, and the strategy for the award of individual grants and/ or the award of all individual grants by MOPAC.  

2. The actions proposed can be taken in compliance with procurement legislation and MOPAC’s Contract Regulations. 

6. Public Health Approach  

1. This service adopts both a Whole Systems and a Public Health Approach to women at risk of offending and those in contact with the Criminal Justice System. Together, this approach provides a combined holistic approach and continuity of care across the Criminal Justice System and health interventions; provides integration, which support women in their attempt to stabilise their lives; find pathways out of crime and reduce the risk of harm posed by them to the public, known adults and children. The service also seeks to reduce intergenerational offending. Many of the service users have complex needs, are vulnerable, have experienced victimisation and abuse. The support services to which they have access, is based on their specific need(s) and will provide wrap-around support to address these issues and promote long term rehabilitation and well-being.  

7. GDPR and Data Privacy  

1. MOPAC has adhered to the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 and ensured that any organisations, including service providers who are commissioned to do work with or on behalf of MOPAC are fully compliant with the policy and understand their GDPR responsibilities.  A signed DPIA is in place to support the evaluation of this service. This attached. 

8. Equality Comments  

1. The Adult Women’s Diversion Scheme is part of the London Women’s Community Rehabilitation Service, which aims to reduce crime, and see fewer women enter the Criminal Justice System being imprisoned, and reoffending. It is based on best evidence of ‘what works to reduce recidivism, responds in a gender-informed way to women’s particular needs at all parts of the Criminal Justice System, recognising that they have frequently been abuse victims and often have complex needs. Incorporating the Adult Women’s Diversion Scheme into the London Women’s Community Rehabilitation Service, has facilitated delivery of a Whole Systems Approach, which is underpinned by evidence that a gender-informed approach is more effective than a gender-neutral approach in rehabilitating female offenders and addressing their complex needs. It is a proportionate means of achieving the legitimate aim of minimising particular disadvantages suffered by the adult women offender population. Furthermore, it demonstrates that MOPAC, together with its co-commissioner partners have considered and meet the requirement to have ‘due regard to the Public Sector Equality Duty’ in the design and development of the service.   

2. Acceptance of Tower Hamlets additional twelve-month funding of the Adult Women’s Diversion Scheme will enable further testing of the impact that police-issued Conditional Cautions have in responding to the specific needs of women. It will enable evaluation of the effect and outcomes of attaching a specific condition on women to attend a London’s Women’s Centre or hub, to obtain holistic tailored support to address her needs, and turn her life around. 

9. Background/supporting papers. 

• PCD 1065: CJS 2022/2023 Commissioning Decisions 

• PCD 1435 Acceptance of Funds from London Borough of Tower Hamlets for Women’s Diversion 

• Reference No. 2324.INC.07: Service Agreement Between MOPAC & Tower Hamlets Council 

• PCD 1683 

• Amended Memorandum of Understanding for the Co-Commissioning of London Women’s Community Rehabilitation Services 2023/2024 

• Amended Memorandum of Understanding for the Commissioning of London Women’s Community Rehabilitation Services 2024/2025 

• Signed DPIA