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United Kingdom Bobby Cummines has transitioned from a renowned figure in the criminal underworld to a leading advocate for reformed offenders, now sharing insights on rehabilitation and social reintegration.
Bobby Cummines served as the chief executive of Unlock, The National Association of Reformed Offenders, from April 1999 to March 2012, working to reintegrate ex-offenders into society and campaign against social exclusion and discrimination.
Working with Halifax and Barclays, Cummines developed a guide to assist people in prison or on the verge of release in opening bank accounts, addressing a crucial barrier to financial inclusion for ex-offenders.
Cummines successfully persuaded the insurance industry to establish the Esteem Insurance Company, specifically designed to serve ex-offenders, making insurance accessible to individuals with criminal records.
Robert Cummines, born on November 23, 1951, in Islington, London, endured a challenging upbringing in King’s Cross. He left school at 15 without qualifications and after an incident with the police that led to a wrongful conviction and losing his job, he embarked on a criminal career. By the age of 16, Cummines was involved in crime, quickly becoming Britain’s youngest armed robber. He led a group called “The Chaps” in 1970s North London, known for their extreme methods and fearsome reputation, employing violence and utilizing a sawn-off double-barrel shotgun named “Kennedy.” He was sentenced to an 18-year prison term after being entrapped by an arms dealer.
During his incarceration, Cummines underwent a significant transformation. A conversation with fellow inmate Charlie Richardson motivated him to pursue education. He began studying social science and psychology with the Open University, a pursuit that provided him with a new sense of purpose. This period of academic engagement led him to understand deviant behavior and inspired him to change his life’s trajectory. He also started writing poetry and garnered support from Labour MP Tony Benn, who contributed a foreword to his published poems and advocated for prison education reform. Cummines earned a degree from Greenwich University and held senior positions after his release.
Upon his final release from prison almost 25 years ago, Cummines dedicated his life to advocating for reformed offenders. From April 1999 to March 2012, he served as the chief executive of Unlock, The National Association of Reformed Offenders. In this role, he campaigned against social exclusion and discrimination, striving to ensure that individuals who had served their sentences could reintegrate into society. His efforts included working with the insurance and banking industries to open financial services to ex-offenders, and he was an expert witness to the home affairs select committee on prisoner education. For his services to reformed offenders, Queen Elizabeth II awarded him an OBE in June 2011. His autobiography, “I Am Not A Gangster,” was published in 2014, detailing his experiences and advocacy.
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