ilawrence@napo.org.uk's blog

A hugely testing week for us as usual but one that has caused us to put considerable pressure on MOJ/NOMS about the introduction of the Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, which is a feature of the Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014.

This, along with the much vaunted ‘Through the Gate’ (TTG) provision, were central tenets of Graylings TR reforms, and now that the share sale looks set to go ahead on 1^st February, everyone is expecting to see the implementation of these new sentencing options.

A hugely diverse week in terms of activities and meetings draws to a close. Hopefully you will have seen the latest Napo Pay Briefing issued to Branches on Monday: https://www.napo.org.uk/news/probation-pay-circular. Essentially, it explains the background to the 0% pay offer and the respective responses from Unison and ourselves. We have invoked the authority vested to us by the National Executive Committee and the Probation Negotiating Committee to immediately signal rejection on your behalf.

Just before the festive break (which I hope you had an opportunity to enjoy) I made mention of our intention to hold the MoJ to account over the ongoing safety and operational issues that have featured large in our campaign against the TR share sale.

Just one week into 2015 and we are already seeing evidence that service delivery is in some cases way off where we were told it was expected to be. Some managers have expressed their concerns to us that the situation is unlikely to substantially change between now and the intended CRC mobilisation date of 1^ST February.

Since last weeks news about the discontinuance of the Judicial Review application we have been busy preparing for the costs hearing that took place on Friday, and getting out as much information to you as we have been able to, notwithstanding the confidentiality restrictions. Another mail out is on its way this evening putting some of the outcomes in context.

It's a while since I last had the opportunity to spend a bit of time in Newcastle, although 12 hours (less 4 in sleep - what a luxury ) meant that I didn't exactly get to do the guided tour of this vibrant Northern city. Nevertheless, it was a privilege to be invited to speak with nearly 40 of our members (and a couple of welcome guests) at an emotionally charged meeting which pretty much reflected the prevailing mood as reported to us by your elected representatives.

It was a highly dramatic and tension filled day at the high Court on Wednesday.

So, yet another testing week in front of us, as I write we await confirmation of a date and time for consideration of our application for disclosure as part of the ongoing Judicial Review proceedings.

Well actually it was an afternoon, but by the time we emerged from the Directions hearing and consulted again with our learned friends and got temporarily locked in at the Royal Courts of Justice (surely not deliberate) it seemed like I had been there forever.

Today marks the start of what is a defining moment for your union as we move towards the conclusion of this vital part of our campaign to try and prevent the part privatisation of the Probation service. Whatever happens to our quest for Judicial Review, it won’t signal the end of our campaign which is to achieve reunification of the probation service to something which resembles what we had before, but builds on the ethos of public service and public partnerships.