Probation Service Undergoes Review

More madness in the criminal justice system as the Probation Service undergoes a review.

Government has commissioned a review of the Probation system, which will include consideration of the privatisation of the Probation Service. This would include not only the supervision of offenders coming out of Prison or on community penalties but also those who prepare the Reports for sentencing for Court. The full review would encompass the provision of Hostels for those leaving Prison or on bail and whilst the creation of a regional Probation Service is to be looked at, the underlying scheme appears to be a serious consideration of privatisation of the whole system. Unsurprisingly the major players interested are G4S and Serco, the private security companies. There is also consideration of tendering for Contracts to run Probation Services.

Clearly the costs are a factor and whilst I am sure that the Government will say that standards can be maintained undoubtedly tendering always results in a race to the bottom and the provision of services that follow cannot possibility be of the quality previously available. The obvious danger to the public that results from this appears to be ignored. Furthermore if we are to solve problems such as the astonishingly high Prison population currently standing at nearly 88,000 then the provision of an effective Probation Service is essential. I don’t believe that tendering will encourage this.

This Government and previous Governments are only too keen to cut the costs of the criminal justice service from representation right through to the running of Prisons and it is a hardly a surprise that the Probation Service is now under review. The result will undoubtedly be that the most talented and experienced Probation Officers will move on to other careers. The Government cannot appear to understand that tendering to supply cotton wool swabs to the NHS and tendering for legal services and Probation Services are not analogous. This is especially so when the Government look at the tendering process in the NHS and hold it up as a symbol of perfection and then the truth is that consistently NHS Trusts are having to look outside the Contract made with specific private companies for items in order to supplement their stocks as consistently the private companies cannot produce the items contracted for within the tendered price. This isn’t too much of a disaster in terms of cotton wool swabs but in terms of dealing with people’s lives as is the position in the criminal justice system is potentially disastrous for all of us.

The Statement from the Probation Chief Association, which represents Chief Probation Officers, said “We believe that the core of Probation work, advice to Courts and the management of offenders - should be undertaken within the public sector. It is vital that this work be kept together to ensure informed advice to Court and avoid fragmentation of supervision, which would increase the risk of public protection failure and undermine the prospects of rehabilitation”.

Unfortunately a lot has already started, G4S and Serco already operate Contracts for tagging of offenders and the first competition to organise the work by offenders who are ordered to perform community service is underway. Private companies and the Probation Service have been invited to bid to run the unpaid work and the outcome is to be announced in the Spring.