The innovative Choices and Consequences Programme (C2) was judged as the winner of the 'Adult' category in the Howard League for Penal Reform's Community Programme Awards. The Howard League for Penal Reform aims to increase public and government support for community sentences and champion community programmes that challenge and help offenders change for the better.

C2 is a partnership initiative between organisations including Hertfordshire Constabulary, Hertfordshire Probation Trust, Hertfordshire Criminal Justice Board, Drug Intervention Programme, Her Majesty's Court Service, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Prison Service as well as many others.

Detective Inspector Stuart Campfield who leads the C2 project for Hertfordshire Constabulary, said: "We're delighted that the Choices and Consequences programme has been recognised by the Howard League for Penal Reform in this way.

"This award represents our hard work and dedication over the last four years, aimed at keeping our county safer and reducing the number of victims, by helping to break the cycle of offending by our most prolific criminals.

"By taking this partnership approach, we've got the right services and skills available to help offenders to take the steps to transform their lives, stopping them from committing harm to our communities, keeping Hertfordshire a better place to live and work for everyone."

Steve Johnson-Proctor, Director of Operations at Hertfordshire Probation Trust, who oversees Probation's contribution to C2, commented: "We are often told that public opinion demands more punishment and more prison for offenders. However, the vast majority of victims contacted as part of the C2 programme, which provides an alternative to custody for selected non-violent offenders, are positive that something constructive is being done to address the offending behaviour of the offender who has burgled them or stolen from them in order to reduce the likelihood of further victims."

This significant achievement is well timed, as the first candidate recently completed the programme. C2 helped the candidate beat his drug addiction, allowing him to lead a crime free life, where he now aspires to become a drugs counsellor.

C2 was launched in 2007 and was pioneered by Assistant Chief Constable Chris Miller and His Honour Judge Baker QC. The scheme, the first of its kind in the country, is an intensive four year programme, which offers an alternative to prison custody for those offenders who may have committed hundreds of crimes and have been in prison on a number of occasions. Before candidates can join C2, they first admit the full extent of their criminality and then comply with strict conditions of a staged community based sentence.

Those admitted on to the programme must be non-violent offenders and tend to have an addiction of some kind.

Whilst being provided with the support that is necessary to make such a long term change in their offending behaviour they must also adhere to many requirements that are made of them. This includes close monitoring, attend drugs treatment courses and undergo continual drug testing where necessary, and an offending behaviour programme. Failure to make and maintain that change will place them at risk of being sentenced for the full extent of their criminality.

Assistant Chief Constable Chris Miller said: "This award coupled with the positive results the programme is beginning to yield, demonstrates that it is creating an opportunity to make a real difference to people's lives and the commitment and dedication by those involved in its delivery."

Director of the Howard League for Penal Reform, Frances Crook, added: "The winners of our Community Programme Awards are beacons of best practice and a key example of how hard working professionals can succeed with those who have committed crimes and help them turn their lives around. It is by emulating examples like these that we can build an effective criminal justice system for the future."

ENDS