Support for children when a parent is jailed

Thirty-three children whose parents have spent time in prison are being supported by a new project.

The Northamptonshire police, fire and crime commissioner (PFCC) said its early intervention team started a new scheme with Northamptonshire Police in September.

A spokesperson said practitioners, from the PFCC office, would support young people in the 16 weeks after their parent received a custodial sentence.

Ch Insp Oliver Charter said the project was "crucial in breaking intergenerational cycles of harm".

"We are committed to not only enforcing the law, but also to safeguarding those most impacted by it," said Charter, who is a designated chief inspector for prevention and intervention.

"The teams focus on supporting children who have had a parent or sibling receive a custodial sentence – a moment we know is consistently linked to increased vulnerability, emotional instability, and heightened risk of future offending.

A spokesperson said they believed it was the first project of its nature in England to be supported by a PFCC.

The PFCC practitioners work with the Probation Service and youth justice system to identify the children most in need.

Labour commissioner Danielle Stone said: "Until now, there has been a real gap in the system where children have been falling through the cracks.

"They need help to identify that just because a parent or sibling has gone to prison, doesn't mean they will follow in the same footsteps."

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