WOMEN criminals in Hull could avoid punishment if they agree to go on courses to change the error of their ways.
Police are introducing a "groundbreaking" trial that could see women who have committed minor crimes avoiding prosecution in an attempt to reduce reoffending.
Instead, they will be referred to the Together Women charity to address the reasons behind their offending.
The pilot scheme, which will run for between three and six months, is targeting women, as police believe they respond better to encouragement than men.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Cunningham said: "It is not a soft option, but it is more benevolent.
"It will be their chance and, if they don't take that chance and come into custody again, then they will be going through the criminal justice system.
"We are trying something a bit different, which ultimately is about reducing reoffending and protecting the public.
"We recognise female criminals can be a vulnerable group and can commit offences for perhaps different reasons and are more receptive to support than perhaps male criminals might be."
The project, known as the triage system, will see every woman taken into custody at Priory Road police station assessed by a support worker to examine why they have offended. Those who have committed minor crimes could be referred to Together Women instead of receiving a fixed penalty ticket, caution or being prosecuted.
Det Chief Insp Cunningham said: "If they are a first-time offender, or have a limited offending history, we will look at using the process as a disposal rather than giving them a caution, ticket, or being prosecuted.
"Those that deserve to be prosecuted still will be, they will just also be given the option of the TWP to help themselves and prevent further offending.
"It will only be used as a disposal where we think it will be more effective than putting them through the criminal justice system.
"The impact of a caution or fixed-penalty ticket may be limited but providing support can help stop these people offending.
"It also offers value for money as it avoids the significant costs of processing somebody through the criminal justice system."
The scheme is based on a similar project in Hull, which has dramatically reduced reoffending among child criminals.
More than 940 young offenders have been referred to the Hull Youth Justice Service for support instead of being prosecuted since the youth triage scheme was launched in July 2009.
Of those, 770 have stayed out of trouble.
Det Chief Insp Cunningham said: "It is quite radical, but we are looking at the youth scheme, which is tried and tested and has been hugely successful.
"Our intention is to build on that success and we will be evaluating the results closely over the trial."
Workers from the Youth Justice Service will assess women at the police station.
Nick Metcalfe, manager of the service, said: "If it works with children and young people, why won't it work with older people?
"There are plenty if people of all ages who get into trouble for the first time and we don't do much about that. This is just expanding what we have been doing with young people and looking at adults.
"There is a real opportunity here and it will be interesting to see the results."
At Together Women, they will be assigned a key worker and given one-to-one support to identify any issues causing them to commit crime.
The centre in George Street, city centre, offers support for drug and alcohol misuse, domestic abuse and financial and accommodation problems.
Deputy manager Nicola Lambe said: "It is not a soft option at all. We are making them look at their issues and that is not an easy thing to do. The thing causing them to be out of control could be deeply buried and it is not easy to look at that.
"If they are given a caution, or taken through court, they can forget about those issues and could be back in the police station the next week and again and again.
"It is about trying to stop them offending before it becomes too late. If we can do that, it will have a knock-on effect on the whole community."
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