‘One stop shop’ to reduce male offending

Perth and Kinross Council has revealed a one stop learning shop to reduce male offending should be up and running by the end of this year.

A similar service for women was set up following the Women’s Commission Report in 2012.

The One Stop Women’s Learning Shop aims to reduce offending and help women to engage with their family and community in a more positive way.

At a meeting of PKC’s housing and communities committee on Wednesday, September 2, PKC’s chief social worker Jacquie Pepper told councillors a similar service for men should be up and running by the end of 2020 in Perth.

The announcement came as councillors discussed the Community Payback Orders Annual Report 2018/19.

Perth City Centre Lib Dem councillor Peter Barrett was delighted to hear the news. After the meeting, he told the PA: “The report raised concerns about fragmented service provision and difficulties accessing community mental health and drug addiction services. It was very good to hear that the One Stop Men’s Learning Shop will be based at the Neuk in the centre of Perth. The fact that it will be up and running by the end of the year is tremendous.”

He added: “The Lib Dems believed there was a gap in services to reduce male offending behaviour and successfully secured funding to pilot OMLS in the budget this year.

“I was concerned that progress could have been delayed by lockdown but am delighted development work and design of the model has continued at pace. The one stop shop makes it possible to access a whole range of support under one roof so that offenders with multiple and complex needs can be supported.”

A further progress report will be brought back to the housing and communities committee in six months’ time.