Mayor of London urged to take ‘strategic approach’ to get ex-offenders back into work

Dusty Knuckle in Dalston was praised for its commitment to giving prison leavers a fair chance. Photograph: Facundo Arrizabalaga

Prisoners in London should be allowed out for short periods to work in order to better prepare them for life after detention, Sir Sadiq Khan has been told.

Fewer than one in three Londoners leaving prison are in employment six months after release, representing one of the lowest rates in any region in England and Wales. This is down to a lack of support within prison and after release, as well as an enduring stigma from potential employers, a City Hall report has said.

The London Assembly Economy, Culture and Skills Committee have now called on the Mayor of London to take a lead in creating a “strategic, joined-up approach” to help upskill and support former prisoners into the workforce.

Recommendations from the investigation include additional funding to improve education and training within prisons, holistic support for recent prison leavers and encouraging prisons in London to allow inmates release on temporary licence (ROTL) so they can work.

Liberal Democrat Assembly Member Hina Bokhari, who chairs the cross-party committee, said: “The challenge of improving employment outcomes for people leaving prison is highly complex, and is not something that will change overnight.

Hina Bokhari (centre-right) pictured with Green Party leader Zack Polanski (centre-left) and Sian Williams (far right) outside the Dusty Knuckle. Photograph: Facundo Arrizabalaga

“We heard from employers how prison leavers are essentially an untapped market of workers who can play a pivotal role in boosting the economy, whilst reducing reoffending rates. However, the stigma associated with prison leavers weighs heavy on the minds of employers, who often choose alternative options when hiring for roles.

“Ex-offenders often show a higher dedication and commitment to succeeding in roles because they see it as their last chance to turn their lives around. This should be commended and rewarded, but far too often it is ignored.

“Years of underfunding from governments has made it that much harder for prisons to prepare soon-to-be leavers for the working world, and we want to see this change. Boosting funding for training in prisons and the Mayor taking a lead in breaking the stigma would be a huge step towards maximising the skills of all Londoners, and we urge the Mayor and government to take forward our recommendations in this report.”

During the committee’s investigation, Assembly Members were told that prison leavers are an “untapped talent pool” for employers in the capital.
London’s unemployment rate was estimated at 6.8 per cent in December, an increase of 0.8 per cent from a year earlier and far higher than the UK average of 5.1 per cent.

This disparity is also reflected among prison leavers – 17.1 per cent are employed within six weeks of release in London, compared to the national average of 19.3 per cent. One of the primary reasons for their struggle is the stigma they face with employers, major businesses told the investigation.

There are some companies, such as the Dusty Knuckle bakery in Dalston, east London, which place emphasis on giving prison leavers a fair chance. But the report also notes that underfunded education and probation services, as well as a failure of London’s prions to ensure inmates benefit from ROTL while behind bars, are also key contributors.

Jon Collins, Chief Executive of Prisoners’ Education Trust (PET), said: “We welcome this report’s focus on prison education as central to helping more people into work on release in London, and its recognition of the untapped potential of digital learning in prisons.

“National cuts to prison education have already led to fewer courses and fewer teachers across England, and London is unlikely to be immune. While greater collaboration between employers, prisons and the charity sector would be a positive step, more joined-up working is no substitute for lost provision.

“With funding pressures hitting support for learners with additional needs particularly hard, reversing the cuts is an urgent pre-requisite to achieving the vision this report sets out.”

The Mayor of London has been contacted for comment.