Inbrief

A social inclusion scheme that assists prisoners in the UK wishing to open a bank account before release has been introduced by the Co-operative Bank. Inmates at Forest Bank Prison near Manchester will be able to open an account in a 12-month pilot scheme. Rob Woolley, the bank’s customer services director, said: ‘Access to employment and housing are extremely important factors in reducing the risk of reoffending but these can only be obtained if ex-offenders have bank accounts.’ Crime reduction and the prevention of reoffending are two themes of the bank’s community strategy.