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CRIMS GONE TO ICELAND
How supermarket chain Iceland is filling its stores with CRIMINALS in major drive to cut reoffending
But Iceland has strict rules about the type of prisoners they will interview for a job
PAUL COWLEY has spent the past two years driving to almost 100 jails.
He is not a prison inspector.
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He brings hope to hundreds of inmates — because ex-cons go to Iceland.
After an incredible life as a jailbird, soldier and priest, he is now a director of the high street frozen food favourite, which employs more former inmates than any other firm in Britain.
And it is all thanks to Paul, 68, who runs Iceland’s unique Second Chance scheme, which the firm hopes the Government will use as a blueprint to get prisoners out of jails and in to work.
Since September 2022, Paul has visited 98 prisons and offered jobs to 680 inmates when they leave jail.
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Six out of ten prisoners reoffend within a year of release, most often because they cannot get work.
Paul says: “Hope doesn’t abound in our prisons. So when prisoners get a letter while they’re still inside giving them a guaranteed real job when they get out, it changes their whole future.
“If you can offer someone gainful employment it reduces reoffending by 50 per cent.”
Iceland boss Richard Walker adds: “When people leave prison their lives are upside down. They come back to reality with a bump. They might have lost their house, their wife, their kids.
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“But to have a solid job offer is the foundation from which you can start to rebuild your life.”
Strict rules
Iceland employs 30,000 staff at 973 stores, 32 restaurants and a food manufacturing plant at Gorton, Manchester.
So far, 330 ex-cons are working for Iceland and bosses hope to eventually increase that number to 3,000.
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It has strict rules about the type of prisoners they will interview for a job.
Lifers, arsonists, terrorists, sex offenders and drug takers will not be considered, along with inmates who will be homeless outside jail.
Paul, Iceland’s director of rehabilitation, gives the hopefuls tough interviews.
Those who pass are offered guaranteed jobs working in stores, as a delivery driver, in a restaurant or at the factory.
That letter is so important to inmates that many of them pin it to their cell walls, as it gives them hope of a new life on the outside.
One of those who got a job offer was Stewart Clarke, who had served four and a half years for armed robbery, ABH and conspiracy to supply drugs.
I’ve been in and out of jail all my life. I’ve always said the only reason I went back to the old me was because I struggled to find a job. This time I didn’t even just go into a part-time job, I went straight into a full-time position
Stewart
Paul met him in HMP Berwyn, Wrexham, where Stewart revealed he had once been a manager for Pizza Hut but believed there was no chance of him ever returning to catering.
Yet when Stewart, 35, left prison almost a year ago Paul fixed him up with work preparing veg at the Opera Grill, Iceland’s restaurant in Chester.
He says: “I’ve been in and out of jail all my life. I’ve always said the only reason I went back to the old me was because I struggled to find a job. This time I didn’t even just go into a part-time job, I went straight into a full-time position.”
Iceland’s bosses even bought Stewart his own set of knives and trained him as a chef de partie, looking after his part of the kitchen.
He reveals he has cooked meals for ex-England footballer Michael Owen and his reality star daughter Gemma.
Dad-of-two Stewart says: “I couldn’t believe it when he walked in.
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“I’m a massive Wrexham supporter as well and I’ve met their footballers when they come in. I can’t believe my luck. From the first day I’ve absolutely loved it.
“I’ve met some good people who took me under their wing. They didn’t judge me for my past and just saw me for who I am.”
Max Pullen, 24, was coming to the end of a five-year sentence when Paul visited him in Category-D prison HMP Ford, near Littlehampton, West Sussex.
Ex-drug dealer Max landed a job as a delivery driver at Iceland’s Fulham store in West London.
He says: “I’d pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to supply. The jury didn’t believe it and I was looking at 12 years.
“I served two and a half years and I’d decided I was never going back to jail.
“About eight weeks before my release I had a chat with Paul. It was nice knowing that I had a job to come home to.”
Max works between 25 and 30 hours a week delivering shopping to customers.
“Now I’ve got a regular wage and prospects, knowing I can progress in the company.”
Retention on the climb
At HMP Onley, near Rugby, Paul was interviewing a dealer who had made £25,000 from selling drugs and was serving eight years.
Paul says: “His issue was our rate of pay. He didn’t think it was enough as a home delivery driver.
Our retention of staff is way higher for ex-offenders than the rest of our retail staff
Richard Walker
“But later he said, ‘Hey boss, I’ve worked out how much I’ve earned through my drug dealing and how long I’ve spent in prison at 40 hours a week — I was on £2.80 an hour, so your 13 quid is pretty good’.
“When you speak to these men and women, they’ve messed up. There’s no excuse for crime, but there’s massive potential in them.
“So when you give them an opportunity, many jump at it.”
Richard Walker says: “Our retention of staff is way higher for ex-offenders than the rest of our retail staff.
“It’s good for everyone, for the ex-offenders, good for the government because it reduces re-offending, but it’s also great for business.
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“You get more loyal, harder-working staff who stay longer.”
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