Fight to Save Probation
Last month Napo published a parliamentary briefing paper calling for, in effect, the end of NOMS and the creation of two separate operational arms for Prisons and Probation. This launched a new campaign to Fight for the Probation's Future.
Napo will be sending the briefing to all MPs, asking them to make representation to Jack Straw asking for a thorough review of the working of NOMS including an examination of the increase in bureaucracy, the time staff spend with offenders and the efficiency, or otherwise, of the IT system.
Action
Members can help. Write to your local MP asking them to support EDM821
“That this House believes that the record high prison population and reducing budgets have undermined the National Offender Management Service's objective of tackling re-offending; considers that this undermines the ability of the Probation Service to function effectively; and calls on the Government to create separate operational structures, with their own directorates, for both prisons and probation”.
Check if your MP has already signed EDM821 here
Download a model letter here MPs letter EDM821
You can find your MP and email them direct Find your MP
Events
Parliamentary Debate - Thursday 21 January
An adjournment debate in the House of Lords on the Future of the Probation Service was secured by Lord Ramsbotham on 21 January. Opening the debate Lord Ramsbotham raised concerns about the impact of NOMS on the operation of the service, the lack of a Probation voice in policy making and the need for a properly resourced Service.
He said: 'People are the only effective tool for dealing with people... Government's basic responsibility is to ensure that there are enough trained probation officers with enough available time to supervise the rehabilitation of the number of offenders for whom they are responsible - nothing more, nothing less'.
He concluded with a call for the restoration of an independent National Probation Service, that the basis of resource planning be that probation staff spend a minimum of 50% of their time in face to face contact with the people they supervise and the decentralisation of adminsitration and reining back of micromanagement.
The debate saw contributions from an impressive list of speakers who ranged widely over a raft of problems facing the Probation Service, including: Lords Woolf andTenby, who spoke on Probation's relationship with the courts; The Bishop of Southwark, who addressed community involvement; Baroness Howe, who spoke specifically about probation training; Baronesses Stern and Gibson, who raised issues about costings and effectiveness; and many others.
Summing up, Lord Ramsbotham said: 'I admit that there was a second purpose of holding this debate, which was to send a message to the probation service that Members of this House understand the problems that they face and think it is extremely important that they are brought ot the notice not only of Ministers but of everyone, through the columns of Hansard'.
Read the full debate in Hansard or download a copy of the transcript below
House of Lords debate on Probation 21-01-10 (Hansard Transcript)
Resources
Download a copy of Napo's Briefing below
Performance of NOMS - The Case for Restructuring (PDF)
Performance of NOMS - Case for Restructuring (word)
Save Probation Bulletins