BENEFIT reforms are undermining efforts to get former prisoners and offenders to go straight, according to a leading charity, and some are choosing to shoplift or deal drugs rather than sign up for benefits or enrol in Government employment schemes.

The charity also said stricter benefit rules could lead to frustration and increased violence and many clients need anger management classes.

Alan Staff, chief executive of Apex Scotland, which works with ex-offenders and vulnerable young people and adults, said: "Many people in our client group are opting out of the benefits system and in particular the Work Programme because its restrictive nature for little likely return is not worth the commitment required.

"Average benefit [is] somewhat less than a couple of deals on the street, or a morning's 'work' stealing and selling on goods. These people are not showing in the jobless figures, because they are not registering as being out of work," he said.

Another group of clients are in need of help with anger management to avoid problems spiralling, particularly when dealing with officialdom, Mr Staff added.

Those affected by health problems such as autism, and moderate to severe personality disorders were particularly concerned, Mr Staff explained.

Mr Staff also said the introduction of Universal Credit was an extra concern because managing a monthly payment is expected to cause budgeting problems, particularly for those with debt problems or an addiction.

Apex Scotland was responding to a Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations survey mapping the impact of benefit changes across the sector.

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