COPS in Brent have teamed up with a local support group in a bid to deter criminals from re-offending and help them rebuild their lives after leaving prison.

In a unique move for a London borough, Brent Police have agreed to share information with the council-run organisation Supported Tenancies Assessment and Referral (START) about the whereabouts and background of former prisoners.

It is hoped START, an organisation which helps council tenants to seek support, advice and find employment, will be able to help the convicts and, ultimately, reduce the re-offending rate in the borough.

Inspector Neil Anderson, responsible for safer neighbourhood policing in Brent, signed the agreement on Thursday, August 21.

He said: “This is the first scheme of this sort taking place anywhere in London and the idea is to identify people recently released from prison, give them help and support and cut down the chance of them re-offending.”

Workers from START will visit the former prisoners with members of the local safer neighbourhood team to explain the new scheme and tell them what support networks are available to them, such as drug and alcohol help groups, housing schemes and employment training.

The police are also hoping criminals will be less likely to fall back into crime after local officers visit them in their homes.

This agreement, signed by Inspector Anderson and Cajetan Anyanwu, a referral officer for START, means the council organisation will have unique access to some police details, including the convicts’ backgrounds, criminal records and contact details after release.

Inspector Anderson said: “START doesn’t currently have access to this kind of information.

“Seeing the work that START does and what it is able to offer as an innovative service, we believe it is beneficial to share some information and make use of the work it does.”

The new scheme will target residents of Brent who were jailed for “low level” crimes, such as theft, fraud, and driving offences.

It started on Thursday, August 21, and its success will be reviewed in three months’ time.