Probation Under Threat
The Ministry of Jusitce announced its plans to privatise up to 70% of probation’s core work on 9 May 2013. Napo belives that the true motivation behind this is to drive down costs and an ideological commitment on the part of the government to the private sector being the preferred bidder as opposed to state run services.
If these plans proceed it will lead to fragmentation of the service, staff cuts (that is how the government will make its savings and the companies their profit) and will compromise public protection.
Napo is campaigning vigourously to defend the Probation Service from this threat.
Latest Campaign Bulletin
Download the latest campaign bulletin Campaign Bulletin 12
Download a campaign leaflet Public Protection Not Private Profit - A5 leaflet
ACTION
Sign the e-petition
One of the many ways in which Napo members, friends and family can help the campaign is to use the Government E -petition 'Do not privatise the Probation Service'. Using your private e-mail address, simply click on to:
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/44403
and follow the simple instructions. Help us get to that magic 100,000 subscribers
Contact your MP
Write to your MP or better still go to see them at their constituency surgery. You can download short briefings to back up the arguments against the privatisation plans and to give your MP below, and also a A5 leaflet outlining the reasons outsourcing probtion will be a disaster.
Download a model letter to adapt Write to your MP - letter
You can find and email your MP at www.theyworkforyou.com
Tell your MP
The government’s rationale for outsourcing Probation is to address high and rising reoffending rates. However, new figures, published this week (21 May), show that actual rates of re-offending by all adult offenders in the community subject to Probation supervision (on both licences and court orders) are the lowest that they have been since 2007/8 (baseline period). They are also the lowest they have been when compared to predicted rates of re-offending.
Download the figures Reoffending Rates Latest
Take a selection of the following
Probation Outsourcing - Rebuttal
Briefing - Probation targets and achievements
Briefing on the supervision of Low and Medium Risk offenders
Summary of Napo's response to the consultation on 'Transforming Rehabilitation'
In Parliament
Offender Rehabilitation Bill
The Offender Rehabilitation Bill which was published on 9 May, legislates for the privatisation of 70% of the Probation Service. It is also loaded with provisions that will create chaos in the administration of justice.
The Bill goes into Committee Stage in the House of Lords on 5 June and Tom Rendon and Ian Lawrence will be meeting with supportive Peers in the next few weeks to maintain pressure in Parliament. We have also instructed a firm of solicitors to look into the potential legal problems of such rushed, ham-fisted and hasty legislation.
More information to follow
Find the Bill and Explanatory Notes
Excellent Westminster Hall Debate on Probation on Wednesday 13 March - secured by George Mudie, MP for Leeds East
Lord Ramsbotham questions the Minister on the government's intentions for Probation
Download the earlier issues of Probation Under Threat Campaign Bulletins below
Special Campaign Bulletin 8 - Backbenchers rally to back Probation
Probation Under Threat Bulletin 9
Campaign Bulletin No 7 - Campaigning in Parliament: increasing the pressure
Probation Under Threat Bulletin No 6
Probation Under Threat Campaign Bulletin 5
Probation Under Threat Campaign Bulletin 4
Stop Clause 23 Bulletin 3 (PDF)
Stop Clause 23 Bulletin 2 (PDF)
Stop Clause 23 Bulletin 1 (PDF)