Prison leavers are an “untapped talent pool” for employers but London’s rising housing costs are a “huge issue”, the London Assembly has been told.
Around a sixth of ex-offenders in London – 17.1 per cent – are employed within six weeks of release from custody, rising to 27.9 per cent after six months.
This is lower than the national average, however, of 19.3 per cent and 31.1 per cent respectively.
Major businesses and employers told the London Assembly Economy, Culture and Skills Committee on Tuesday (September 2) that a lack of employer education, negative stereotypes and soaring costs of accommodation played a factor in the capital’s underperformance.
Darren Burns of the Timpson group, of which 12 per cent of the workforce are prison leavers, said anyone who has been behind bars is often “marginalised” by potential employers.
“Prison leavers face stigma – lots of employers will admit to discriminating against those with convictions,” he told Assembly Members.
“There are 14million people in the UK with a criminal conviction more serious than a driving offence – that’s one-sixth of the UK population. It doesn’t make any sense for any business to consign that huge population to the employment scrapheap.
“It’s human nature to fear the worst – but some of the issues aren’t true. Lots of the prison population do have complex issues around mental health and other areas. But when they are work ready, they should be put in front of employers like us.
“When people realise prison leavers just need a chance, it works very well.”
According to a 2021 survey, around half of employers would not hire someone with a criminal record.
Nearly eight out of ten people with a criminal record cite employment as one of the main difficulties they face after being involved with the criminal justice system.
Jessica Mellor-Clark, Head of BeOnsite at Lendlease, added: “Too many people, when they look at someone who has left prison, only see the conviction – but that’s the tip of the iceberg. People want a chance, and if you give them that – they will repay you.”
Prison leavers still struggle even when employers do take a chance, the London Assembly heard.
Mr Burns said that employment for ex-offenders had essentially become a “postcode lottery” – with those in London suffering the worst odds.
He added: “Accommodation is a huge issue – it’s really difficult and a common concern. In London, the most basic accommodation is £1500 a month – we pay as much as we can afford, but once you factor in living costs, it doesn’t leave much to survive on. There are some schemes whereby people get given three months free housing upon release, but it depends where people are put in custody.”
He recommended that prison leavers receive free or discounted travel for a time period after being released.
Tehmina Khan, Business Manager at Ringway Hounslow Highways, said employers need to be given support so they can be appropriately flexible for ex-offender employees. She cited one such case where a prison leaver was given temporary accommodation very far away from the workplace, meaning she needed a change to her shift times.
The result of this failure to support prisoners has left an unharnessed talent pool of prison leavers that could boost the capital’s economy significantly, the employers said.
Ms Khan said: “It’s an untapped talent pool. For employers, it’s shouldn’t be about worrying about having an ex-offender as an employee, it should be about showing the success.”
Lynne Kennedy, Social Mobility Manager at pub chain Greene King, told the London Assembly: “The level of talent that could be harnessed across all industries is phenomenal. At a prison event we were blown away at the volume of talent.
“The talent is there – they just need the opportunity and someone to take a chance.”
Following the meeting, committee chair Hina Bokhari told BBC Radio London: “We heard about the resilience of people who have left prison and are seeking employment, their hard-working approach, the wealth of talent that’s out there and the honesty of the people they were employing.
“There’s been a lot of stereotypes about people who have been in prison and that was completely thrown away in terms of the perceptions that we got from the businesses and employers we talked to.”
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