Probation workers stage protest in Exeter City centre
Strikers from NAPO, the union representing Probation and Family Court staff staged a protest on Exeter High street today.
Members of the union are on strike today and tomorrow (5/6 November) in protest of Government plans to bring in private companies to run a large proportion of the probation service.
In plans announced in May this year all prisoners no matter how short their sentence would be subject to 12 months of mandatory probation supervision in the area they live.
The government hopes that by creating a network of 71 reoffending prisons and a new National Probation Service they can cut down on the UK’s reoffending rate.
Currently around 60% of prisoners who are sentenced to less than 12 months in prison re-offend.
The plans would also see private companies such as G4S, Serco, and Sodexo take on medium risk and low risk offenders probation supervision.
Earlier this year the Government held an event to where over 150 private companies and voluntary organisations met to put in bids on running parts of the new probation service.
At the event Justice Minister Jeremy Wright said: “It is extremely encouraging that so many different providers attended these events, demonstrating their commitment to building positive relationships.
“Through strong, innovative partnerships between the private, public and voluntary sectors we will finally be able to bring down our high reoffending rates, meaning less crime, fewer victims and safer communities.”
Labour’s Shadow Justice Sectary, Sadiq Khan supported the Government’s move to cut re-offending to but said that they were going about it in the wrong way.
In a speech in Commons last week, Sadiq Khan said: “we don’t believe what the Government are proposing is the right way to go about this. Abolishing local probation trusts. Commissioning services direct from Whitehall.
“Imposing a ‘payment-by-results’ model on the system. Fragmenting supervision on the basis of risk levels."
He continued: “implementing half-baked plans in a rushed manner is a gamble with public safety. If something goes terribly, or god forbid, tragically wrong then public confidence in our criminal justice system is undermined.”
NAPO believes that the local probation service system has been unfairly targeted as they claim they remain the highest performing public service. They claim that the government's payment-by-results model could in fact incentivise private companies to allow reoffending rates to rise.
Ian Lawrence General Secretary of NAPO said: "These are unprecedented times for our members as they figth to save the 106 year old Probation service. They strongly believe, along with other criminal justice agencies and experts that Chris Grayling's plans will undermine public protection and put communites at risk whilst also not providing the adequate service offenders need to turn their lives around."
They also fear for the safety of the public as private companies would have no requirement to use properly trained or qualified staff to manage offenders including burglars, violent offenders and gang members.
So far the MOJ has not commented on the strike action.
