REOFFENDING has reduced by 12 per cent since the introduction of a new team.

Northumbria Police's new team, which helps steer vulnerable offenders away from the courts, works with victims and offenders to offer alternatives to prosecution so those most in need are given help to turn their lives around.

The team is known as TREAD (Transformational Resolutions and Education Adult Diversion).

It is based within the force’s Criminal Justice and Custody department and works to identify offenders with complex or additional needs and vulnerabilities, including those struggling with addiction or poor mental health.

One woman arrested on suspicion of being drunk while in charge of a child had a history of complex mental health issues and alcoholism, but relapsed after the support she accessed was withdrawn.

The woman was offered support to tackle her addiction and signposted to agencies to assist her further. Having engaged well and made progress, she now has supervised access to her children with the aim of having them returned to her care.

A man who fraudulently claimed compassionate leave from his employer because he had been too fearful to disclose his poor mental health, was given a conditional caution if he cooperated with an employment, training and education pathway, and received help for his mental health. He was supported to find new full-time employment.

Chief inspector Dave Morrison said: "Conditional cautions and alternative pathways offer offenders a way to tackle any underlying issues or triggers which are having a negative influence on them – and prevent them from entering the criminal justice system."