Safety, Confidence, and the Working Environment
The serious incidents in Preston and Oxford, has brought understandable concern across the probation community about safety, confidence, and the working environment.
Those incidents brought into sharper focus the threats, intimidation and fear experienced by probation staff, including unpaid work supervisors. concerns have become increasingly visible through the increase in reports of abuse, threatening behaviour and related incidents recorded on Sphera.
Through the collective strength and persistence of Napo members across probation, important safety measures have now been introduced. These include lockers, bleed kits, and mandatory safety intervention processes across the service. And the introduction of the safety pilots in the chosen areas.
Member Voice and Collective Action
Discussions through working parties, Napo member meetings, AGM contributions and health and safety forums have helped shape the approach to safety across probation. Members have brought forward practical experience from probation offices, approved premises, court buildings, programme delivery settings, and unpaid work sites.
That collective input has helped place the central question at the heart of the debate: should risk of harm ever be treated as simply part of the job?
It has also reinforced why health, and safety must remain a priority, not an occasional agenda item.
Progress has been made through universal lockers, bleed kits, mandatory SIP testing, and the pilot safety measures. However, these developments must be seen as part of a continuing programme of work rather than a complete solution.