The Prolific and Other Priority Offenders Strategy
Prolific and other Priority Offenders
Welcome to the Prolific and other Priority Offender mini-site
This page provides an introduction to the national Prolific and other Priority Offender (PPO) strategy. If you are already familiar with the objectives of the PPO Programme we suggest you visit the 'What's new' page for programme developments.
Background
It is estimated that approximately 10% of the active offender population for half of all crime and that a very small proportion of offenders (0.5%) are responsible for one in ten offences. The Prolific and other Priority Offender (PPO) strategy was announced by the Prime Minister in 2004 to provide end-to-end management of this this group of offenders. This was followed up by a letter from the Home Secretary, Lord Chancellor, Attorney General and Secretary of State for Education and Skills with more detail on the three complimentary strands of the strategy.
A leaflet outlining the strands of the programme can be found here: PPO leaflet 
(Portable Document Format 102KB)
Three Complementary Strands
Prevent and Deter
The primary aim of Prevent and Deter is to work intensively with those young offenders locally identified as being on the 'cusp' of becoming PPOs. The individuals within this Prevent and Deter Target Group will be identified in response to an escalation in their offending and/or the harm they are causing to their communities which - though not yet at a level which would make it appropriate for them to be targeted under Catch and Convict - has led local partners to identify them for management through the multi-agency PPO approach.
The supporting aim is early identification of those children and young people most at risk of becoming involved in criminality so that they can be provided with multi-agency support to positively influence their lives and divert them from an offending lifestyle.
Catch and Convict
A managed multi-agency approach to tackle the offending behaviour of those individuals locally identified as committing most crime and causing most harm to their communities.
Rehabilitate and Resettle
Multi-agency work providing supportive interventions to address the criminogenic needs of identified PPOs. It is important to recognise that there is a dynamic relationship between the Rehabilitate & Resettle and Catch & Convict strands with appropriate activities being conducted across both strands in parallel. The strands are not mutually exclusive and activity is directed by the behaviour and needs of the identified offender - PPOs are offered the opportunity for rehabilitation or face a swift return to the courts.
Building on the Persistent Offender Scheme
The PPO strategy replaced work under the Persistent Offender Scheme. The PPO strategy has significantly improved the approach by allowing local areas to take into account:
- the nature and volume of the crimes they are committing;
- the nature and volume of other harm they are causing (for example, by virtue of their gang leadership or anti-social behaviour);
- other local criteria taking into account the impact of the individual on their local communities.
This will identify those individuals who are the most prolific offenders, the most persistently anti-social in their behaviour, and those who pose the greatest threat to the safety and confidence of their communities.
Role of Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs)
The strategy is led by the CDRP, with schemes set up to cover every CDRP in the country. The emphasis is a multi-agency approach with Police, CPS, Prisons and Probation working together, with LCJB co-ordination, to effectively catch, convict, monitor and manage these offenders in the community and custody and effectively rehabilitate them.
PPO Programme Evaluation
A National Evaluation of PPO was conducted in 2007 examining the Catch & Convict and Rehabilitate & Resettle strands of the programme. Two key documents arising from the evaluation are provided below:
An Impact Assessment of the PPO Programme (Portable Document Format 412KB)
Research to inform and guide practice (Portable Document Format 111KB)
Last update: Monday, June 15, 2009