Attendance Centre

What is an Attendance Centre?

The main purpose of an Attendance Centre Requirement is punishment where the level of seriousness is low.  The Attendance Centre Requirement offers constructive activities in a group environment whilst imposing a restriction on their leisure time.  The Requirement is one wherby the offender must attend an Attendance Centre specified for the number of hours specified (at least 12 and a maximum of 36 in total).  The court should only impose this requirement if it is satisfied that the Attendance Centre specified in the Community Order is reasonably accessible to the offender.  A pre-sentence report is not necessary for this Requirement to be given.

The first attendance is notified to the offender by the courts or their Offender Manager (in liaison with the Centre) and subsequent attendance instructions are fixed by the Centre Manager.  Where an Attendance Centre is the only Requirement given, the Centre Manager will be the Responsible Officer once contact with the Centre has started.

The Attendance Centre requirement was created under section 214 of the Criminal Justice Act (2003) and can only be imposed on offenders aged between 18 and 24 (i.e. under 25).

Where are the Senior Attendance Centres located?

From  1 August 2010 there will be three Senior Attendance Centres in Cumbria.  These will operate from sites in Carlisle, Barrow and Workington.  Please click on the location to open up a location map.

What are the expected outcomes of attending a Senior Attendance Centre?

This requirement provides offenders with opportunities to:

• review crime and its consequences
• access occupational advice to help them to secure full time employment
• acquire and develop new practical skills and interests
• develop a sense of personal responsibility and self-discipline