A £70m scheme to house homeless prison leavers is being launched in Kent.

It comes as the second part of the government's £220m plan to reduce crime, reoffending and protect the public.

The former convicts will be housed in basic hostels for 12 weeks thanks to the new countrywide investment, which includes Kent, Sussex and Surrey.

However, the Ministry of Justice says "no accommodation has been sourced yet" for the county ahead of the schemes start in July, but it is working with charities, councils and private partners.

It says offenders are 50% more likely to break the law again if they are released without somewhere to stay and housing them straight after they leave will help tackle treatment for addiction, mental health struggles and job searches.

Of the funds £20m is being invested into supplying temporary accommodation to give them a "foundation for a crime-free life" and its expected to support around 3,000 offenders in the first year.

At least £23m of money will go towards building 200 new spaces at approved premises - known as bail hostels - which will allow probation staff to keep a closer eye on high risk offenders.

'By tackling homelessness, we are cutting crime, reducing drug and alcohol misuse and making our streets safer.'

It will also be used to fund new training for staff, increased security and repairs and maintenance.

Prisons and oprobation minister Lucy Frazer QC MP said: “Releasing prisoners without addressing why they ended up there in the first place, only leads them to reoffend and cause more harm.

“By tackling homelessness, we are cutting crime, reducing drug and alcohol misuse and making our streets safer. This low-cost solution has the potential to save billions for the taxpayer and prevent thousands of people becoming victims.”

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