Sunday 6 April 2014

Omnishambles Update 44

A customer enters a pet shop.
Mr. Praline: 'Ello, I wish to register a complaint.
(The owner does not respond.)
Mr. Praline: 'Ello, Miss?
Owner: What do you mean "miss"?
Mr. Praline: (pause)I'm sorry, I have a cold. I wish to make a complaint!
Owner: We're closin' for lunch.
Mr. Praline: Never mind that, my lad. I wish to complain about this parrot what I purchased not half an hour ago from this very boutique.
Owner: Oh yes, the, uh, the Norwegian Blue...What's,uh...What's wrong with it?
Mr. Praline: I'll tell you what's wrong with it, my lad. 'E's dead, that's what's wrong with it!

Things are getting a little surreal, as Frances Crook reveals in her latest blog:- 

Dead budgies and prison rules
Chris Grayling is really getting down and dirty with the detail of prisoners’ lives as the new rules he has introduced stipulate that you can have an alive budgie but not a dead one. Prisoners have been getting in touch to tell us that the time on the phone to families has been cut to 10 minutes when the phone just goes dead.
The ban on sending in books and other essentials has received massive publicity and generated public opprobrium because of the Howard League campaign. The support of the country’s top writers for our campaign has gone alongside criticism from experts like HM chief inspector of prisons who slammed the secretary of state for justice’s propensity to micromanage prisons.
The 66 page Incentives and Earned Privileges instruction from the National Offender Management Service covers every detail of prison life and is bureaucracy gone bonkers.  Prison governors and staff will have to scour the details to ensure that the rules are being applied. They also have to refer to the links with other 22 other voluminous instructions documents which all have to be read together and cross referenced. It won’t leave them much time for doing any real work.
The instructions apply to both public sector and private prisons, even though prisons like the newly privatised Northumberland jail has just divested itself of 200 staff. How the few remaining staff, who had to deal with a major disturbance at the weekend, will find the time to search for dead budgies is a mystery.
Governors are clearly being forced to take these rules very seriously as it was a governor who raised with me his concern about the dead budgies. He was furious at the micro management of prisons emanating from the top of the Ministry of Justice that is tying senior staff into bureaucratic knots.
The new restrictions go alongside staff cuts that impede family contact and, as we know, access to libraries and learning through reading.
The regime introduced by the new ministerial team is in stark contrast to that of the first couple of years of the Coalition government when the emphasis was on work and activity. Now there is shut down, nothing goes in and nothing happens within. It is no coincidence that there have been riots every few days, and things will get worse.
Meanwhile the prisoner book ban story refuses to die and the POA have now got on board as reported here on the Politics website:-
The campaign against Chris Grayling's ban on prisoners being sent books was backed by prison staff themselves today, as doubt was cast on a key plank of the justice secretary's argument. The general secretary of POA, the trade union for prisoner workers, insisted staff had never had a problem dealing with the parcels being sent in to jails, casting doubt on Graylings assertion that it would not be "secure or practical" to allow parcels to be sent to prisoners.
The comments came as Gareth Davies, former governor of Pentonville prison, branded the book ban "barbarous". They also coincide with an intervention in the debate by the chief inspector of prisons, who branded the policy a "mistake".
Steve Gillan, general secretary of the POA, told Politics.co.uk that Grayling's insistence that prison guards could not scan parcels for drugs or other contraband was ridiculous. "For decades prison officers have dealt with parcels. They searched them," he said. "The reality is it was never really a problem. Now and then people tried to smuggle drugs in that way. But as professional prison officers we found these items. "The majority of these books and magazines that came in didn't have any drugs in them at all. "People have been having their books sent in for 20, 30 years and now all of a sudden it's become a big issue for the secretary of state."
The comments cast doubt on Grayling's argument, made in Politics.co.uk earlier this week, that a ban on parcels across the prison estate needed to be imposed for security reasons. The Ministry of Justice tried to bolster its case by sending images to the press of contraband hidden in gifts sent to prisoners from friends and family, such as Weetabix with a chamber inside them for drugs.
Gillan's comments are particularly damaging because they come from a figure who otherwise supports Grayling's Incentives and Earned Privileges scheme. "I agree with the secretary of state on stopping Sky TV and letting prison officers have control of the incentive and privilege scheme," he said. "We agree with some of what the secretary of state has done, but not the book issue – that's never really been a problem." Gillan's comments come as frustration against the book ban policy grows among current and former prison staff.
In a letter to the Times today, former Pentonville prison governor Gareth Davies described the "deliberate deprivation" of books as "barbarous". He said the policy "filled me with shame that such a thing was being perpetrated in British people's interests".
The rules, which came into force last November, "shows a system that has discarded an important principle by which I lived for 26 years, that prisoners are incarcerated as punishment but not for punishment", he added. "Reading is essential in the educative processes. These have been acknowledged for many years as a key element of rehabilitation. What on earth is the minister thinking?"
In a related development, chief inspector of prisons Nick Hardwick said the book ban policy was a result of ministers trying to control prison policy from the centre. Hardwick told the Independent that the broad objectives of the incentives scheme were "sound", but added: "The problem in this case… is trying to micro-manage this from the centre, with the centre describing very detailed lists of what prisoners can and can't have.
"I think that's a mistake. I think that once the policy intention is clear, how that's implemented should be left much more to the discretion and the common sense of governors, so that they can reflect the needs of their particular prison population."
The intervention from prison professionals comes amid a huge backlash against the policy from leading authors, including Salman Rushdie, Martin Amis and Alan Bennett. A Change petition set up to make the justice secretary revise the policy has now acquired over 19,000 signatures.
The issue is covered in the most recent offering from retired PO Mike Guilfoyle writing on the LeftCentre website in a wide-ranging piece entitled 'What Price Justice - The demise of Probation'. Here's a taster:-

"It was a piquant moment for me, reading that the prominent Human Rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson QC had been broached to consider instigating legal action.  This in response to the ill-considered and mean spirited move by the ‘ Hard line’ Justice Secretary Chris Grayling MP, prohibiting the sending into prisons of books by families and friends under recently imposed restrictions introduced last November via a Ministry of Justice edict, with the Orwellian prefix PSI 30/2013 (Incentives and Earned Privileges Scheme). This policy recalled for me, the redoubtable prison reformer Sir Alexander Paterson, who coined the famous adage `that men (sic) come to prison as a punishment, not for punishment’. 
Whether this embargo on books breaches the 1689 Bill of Rights as Robertson opines, such that this constitutes  `cruel and unusual punishment’ only time will tell. But the unbridled enthusiasm with which Grayling has embarked on this more populist approach to the treatment of prisoners, citing in another blunt historic allusion to the need to introduce ‘ Spartan prisons’. Those terrorised by the Spartans being the ritually mistreated Helots, perhaps this unsavoury atavism relishing as it does such an oppressive apparatus of control, befits a Justice Secretary who regularly derides the inconvenient demands of the Human Rights Act.  Not to mention his utter annoyance of judicial review."
Meanwhile, I've had a response from the BBC to my complaint about poor news coverage of the London Justice Alliance/Napo rally and strike last week. Judging by a glance at Facebook, it seems I wasn't the only person to complain, but this person at least got an extra paragraph in their standard letter:-
Thanks for contacting us regarding BBC News.
I understand you feel there was insufficient coverage on a large protest on changes to the justice system that took place in London.

When deciding on the level of coverage appropriate to a certain issue, there are several factors that we take into consideration. These can include whether the story is new and requires immediate coverage, how unusual the story is, and how much national interest there is in the story. We know that not everyone will agree with our choices on which stories to cover, and the prominence that we give to them. These are subjective decisions made by our news editors, judgement calls rather than an exact science and we accept that not everyone will think that we are correct on each occasion
Nevertheless I would like to assure you that I have registered your comments on our audience log. This is the internal report of audience feedback that’s compiled daily and made available to management throughout the BBC.
The audience logs are seen as important documents that can help shape decisions about future programming and content.
Thanks again for taking the time to contact us.
Kind Regards
Gerard Magennis
BBC Complaints

It's just not a good enough response from 'Auntie', but to be honest I gave up watching BBC tv news in favour of Channel 4 and Jon Snow ages ago, the former being so shallow. It's interesting to note that critics of the NHS 'reforms' feel the same about our state broadcaster as revealed in this GP's blog:-

The role of the BMA here is paramount in highlighting the disastrous changes occurring in the English NHS—nothing short of a major publicity campaign will suffice. We cannot rely on the media, and especially not the BBC who were hopeless at highlighting the privatising Health and Social Care Bill during its long and tortuous passage through parliament in 2010-2012.

As we head up to a General Election, this is not a good omen, but at least there looks to be no sign of the Maria Miller expenses scandal dying down - in fact quite the opposite as it proves an excellent opportunity to give our elected representatives another good kicking as they confirm once again that they simply cannot be trusted. 

52 comments:

  1. The books for prisoners issue has really taken off in the media now but there is still no publicly expressed care for the probation practitioners who have been reporting their stresses here on the thin line of public protection, which is being held in place by faxes arriving unexpectedly and chance encounters on the stairs - I say remember Sonnex - the dam will burst - I hope soon enough - so that there is only a small flood and no one is actually drowned.

    I guess now is the time for politicians & practitioners to decide whether they are going to position themselves on the high ground with me - where at most we will get our shoes splashed - or be like some probation practitioners ordered to go up to the cracking wall and try & fix it with the equivalent of pollyfiller. Personally I believe those who resign now - even at a short term financial cost may well turn out to not only save their own lives but also the lives of others - because without folk who agree to work at the frontline - those who control the flow up to the dam, will have to change their plan.

    By the way - have you seen some details from Joe Kuiper's communications - he promises more soon as well. Seems he is near the dam and working very hard to stay dry and give others the information so they can decide how they too can stay dry!

    http://joekuipers49.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/pandora-elpis-lives-in-classical-greek.html?m=1

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    1. Another excellent and highly illuminating blog from Joe - will probably give it star billing here shortly.

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  2. http://www.insidetime.org/mailbag.asp?a=1441&c=star_letter_of_the_monththank_you_very_much_mr_grayling_for_your_rehabilitation_revolution

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  3. If I was cynical I could suggest that this constant attack on prisons is being made in the hope of triggering a strangeways like disturbance following which media spin (ably assisted by the MOJ) would tell the great British public that the only way forward from here would be to privatise all UK prisons.....if I was cynical

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    1. Is Grayling attempting to win some public opinion here?
      Where was the money spent previously? Nowhere? Didn't they spend much more trying to recover ill gotten gains then they eventually reclaimed, forcing them to right millions off? Beware of wolf in sheeps clothing!

      http://www.itv.com/news/story/2014-04-06/money-from-criminals-to-be-used-to-help-victims/

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    2. This may be a documentry thats worth a watch on Wednesday night.
      And have you noticed how these crime statistics are suddenly popping up everywhere? Not long ago you would have had to drag them physically from a ministers hand.

      http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/468917/Prisoners-freed-to-strike-again-high-reoffending-rates-highlighted-by-latest-figures

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    3. Along with a new initiative that will see funds taken from criminals provide services for victims, the Government announced it is setting up a Victims' Panel so those affected by crime can tell ministers directly how the criminal justice system could be improved to support them.

      TV presenter Charlie Webster, who has recently spoken out about the sexual abuse she suffered as a teenager, and Barry Mizen, whose son Jimmy was murdered in 2008, will be part of that panel, set up by Justice Secretary Chris Grayling and policing minister Damian Green.

      "We've got to make sure we give victims the best support possible," Mr Grayling said. "This Government is doing more than ever to make offenders pay for their crimes and fund the services victims need to recover. But that doesn't mean we can't do more.

      "We receive invaluable help and advice from people who work with victims every day, including the Victims' Commissioner.

      "But I want to hear first-hand from those who have suffered personally about what we can do better to help them come to terms with and recover from the traumatic effects of crime."

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    4. THE STARTLING rate of reoffending among prisoners freed from jail has been laid bare in the latest figures from the Ministry of Justice.

      They show criminals released after short sentences committed more than 13,500 offences, including 2,000 violent attacks, within a year of leaving prison.

      The study of convicts freed in 2011 lists 2,253 burglaries, 9,172 thefts, 1,991 offences of violence plus 115 sex attacks.

      The figures were published as Justice Secretary Chris Grayling ramped up his plan to privatise prob­ation services.

      Yesterday he said: “These figures highlight the staggering effect reoffending has on our communities and the volume of victims suffering at the hands of career criminals.

      “The need to reform rehabilitation is abundantly clear. For too long we have released prisoners on to the streets with £46 in their pockets, and little else, in the hope they would sort themselves out. It is little wonder things have not improved.”

      His proposal would see 35 public sector probation trusts replaced by 21 privately run “community rehabilitation companies” supervising about 160,000 low to medium-risk offenders a year.

      Responsibility for the most dangerous former offenders, however, would remain with a “new and refocused” national ­probation service. However, critics say Mr Grayling’s recent move to ban prisoners’ access to books could set rehabilitation back. Jo Glanville of the literacy charity English PEN said: “Through our work in prisons, we have seen at first hand the fundamental importance of access to literature. I am hopeful that ministers will be prepared to review a misguided policy.”

      The crime figures come as a new TV documentary reveals Southwark and West- minster in central London top the national robbery league. Britain’s Crime Capitals on Channel 5 found London is the richest target for shoplifters, with the Westfield, Bluewater and Westfield Stratford centres the top trouble spots.

      Central Newcastle upon Tyne leads the way on antisocial behaviour, followed by Preston and Middlesbrough, according to police figures for the 12 months up to January this year.

      Wednesday’s opening episode will look at the work of Merseyside Police’s Matrix team as they tackle Liverpool gun crime.

      Britain’s Crime Capitals, Channel 5, Wednesday 9pm

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  4. I have been thinking long and hard for a long time now about the overall purpose of what is happening to probation. Ultimately (apart from ideology because frankly I don't believe it) what will they gain?

    I think I've finally figured it out, in my own mind at least and my apologies if this theory has been posted previously but I have only just worked it out. For years now the government have been trying to get probation officers to propose more curfews to court through probation instructions, legislation and training. All sentences should have an element of punishment / curfew costs the probation service less money so let's use it. We continue to have regular e-mails telling us to increase the use of curfews. It's not happening because probation officers will only propose what they assess to be proportionate, within sentencing guidelines and to be the most appropriate way to manage risk and protect the public. As such, if a curfew is not the most appropriate sentence, it won't be in their proposals. If it is, it will be. Simple as that.

    It is apparent that the MOJ is not happy with the number of curfews imposed and want more. Why? If it is not to protect the public or manage risk then for what purpose? As we all know, punishment can be achieved in sentences without the absolute need for a curfew.

    With report writers in the new world being part of the Civil Service and accountable to Secretary of State is the assumption from MOJ that there will be more control imposed on report writers and more influence over what proposals we make? Is this their attempt at getting those elusive curfews that they have been trying for so long to achieve?

    So there we have it. Let's wait and see if my theory is right...

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    1. I think there is something in that though it is only a small part of a more grandiose initiative across many Government Departments to get what is referred to as a 'smaller state' - which means the Government minimising the services provided to UK Subjects and for those that are essential - apart perhaps from police, and military (though they are not immune) for the delivery to be paid for by public but done by private companies.

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    2. probation also propose things to fit their agendas as a report writer i'm regularly told to propose more Thinking Skills or CDVP if numbers for programmes are down.

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  5. This from the recent blog by Joe Kuipers would support your thesis, but from the CRC end of things:-

    And, when it comes to future cuts it will be in the CRC arena, perhaps to the extent that it will cease to be a people business at all, instead TR marking a transition to major increases in electronic monitoring (which might just suit some primes?) in the lower risk 'market'.

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    1. The other point I nearly forgot was Jim Brown's suggestion the other day that the split is caused as a consequence of a LIBDEMS initiative to get something else into the policy ( I cannot remember what) but he gave no source for that suggestion and I have seen no reference to it anywhere else - but I am VERY curious to know more!

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    2. I agree there will be cuts in CRC. However, I also believe that there will be cuts in the NPS budget, due to there being less staff and there need to provide those wonderful CRCs money for their "services". Lets not also forget that there will be cuts next year and CEO Lewis has stated that probation is not one of the sectors in the public which will be exempt from further cuts.

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    3. Andrew 11:46 - you mean this:-

      "It would seem that the decision to shaft probation goes right back to the very beginning of the coalition alliance. The Tories wanted to privatise the whole thing, but the Lib Dems were not happy. The Tories were sensibly wary of getting too involved in trying to supervise all the under 12 month people, so a deal was struck. Only part of the Service was to be privatised, in return for buying off the Lib Dems with mandatory supervision of all the under 12 month people.

      It was decided right from the beginning and it's the Lib Dems who should never be allowed to forget that it was they who so ignorantly and comprehensively laid the foundations for the present bloody mess we find ourselves in. No wonder we never got anywhere trying to lobby that weasel bunch."

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    4. Yes - Jim Brown did not give a source for that info - in view of LIbDem attitudes in actively promoting TR, does justify that action - but he still has not even hinted at a source or the quality of the information - rumour, someone's speculation or a reliable informant?

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    5. Lets just say I have good reason to believe it's true.

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  6. The books issue reminds me of that anecdote from apartheid-era South Africa when Anna Sewell's "Black Beauty" found its way onto the censor's list of banned publications. Mind, given past Tory/apartheid links, maybe I shouldn't be surprised by this action from Grayling.

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  7. How much autonomy and independence will Probation Officers have working for the Civil Service? Without it I don't really see the point of us.

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    1. It's rumoured that the new NPS 'uniforms', are to be brown corderoy ill fitting jackets with leather patched elbows and a bowler hat

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    2. For boys and girls? And a standard issue Citroen 2CV for all?

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  8. Moral and Ethical Dissonance - I am loathed to say too much, as this is an ongoing issue; but it has caused me to near explode a few times in the recent week. IPP Lifer - was past tariff, eventually, after no less than 3 attended but subsequently aborted Oral Hearings (nowt to do with me or him) gets to Cat D. At Cat D, he is seriously assaulted by 4 others, the incident is not seen by any staff nor his injuries even noticed the following day by staff. As the only injured party, he is so badly injured he is taken to hospital and undergoes facial reconstruction. Whilst absent from HMP, all his belongings are stolen and never found/recovered. He is sent back to closed conditions, but then MoJ find no evidence for this course of action and he is returned to a different Cat D. I have known this man for 7 years, he has never had a social visit, nor any sort of parcel or financial assistance. However, he is a skilled pencil artist, and has managed over the years to build up his materials from selling commissioned work to other prisoners and staff. He enters competitions and has been very successful in gaining cash prizes, the most amounted to £75; he bought a pair of decent trainers; and was rightly proud of his achievement. Consequently, when his belongings were stolen, everything went, all his clothes, and his artist materials. I have been trying to find a charity that might support him in replacing his materials to no avail. I am also conscious of the fact that as he has just moved HMP, he will most probably be without an income for a while, until he is engaged in work of some kind. When I checked he had the huge sum of £7.10 in his personal account. I really feel for this man, as has been said before, people are sent to prison as punishment and not for punishment. So, I decided to hold a fundraising effort, ( I baked a lot of cakes and asked for a voluntary contribution - which was quite successful). However, my line manager was uncomfortable, suggesting this could be seen as me providing a service user with cash - whilst another manager made a hefty donation. I then asked colleagues in HMP how I go about sending the Gov a postal order; which should only be used to buy artist materials.......yip, you guessed it; this would transgress Professional Standards. I was advised to write to the Governor and ask permission. Once I had calmed down and picked up all the stuff I threw on the floor, I decided, I will write and I will resist the temptation to make any reference to HMP's inability to meet its own Professional Standards - you know the one about keeping people in their care and presumably, their possessions safe.

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    1. Thank you - it is demonstrations of human understanding and empathy within a professional relationship that is at the heart of true probation and empowers a client to go forward resisting the pressure to revert to criminality.

      I plan to re-post this in the Napo Forum, but will endeavour to later remove it from there if asked by the writer or Jim Brown claims copyright - this is one of our stories that I believe should be retold to demonstrate how we can influence lives for the good whilst we ourselves - use our whole selves in many simultaneous professional relationships that aim to enhance the well-being of all people.

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    2. I know that '30 years in' has previously commented that this blog hardly ever touches practice issues any more - it having of necessity been hijacked by the fight against TR. So I thank them for reminding us what the job is all about.

      I can hardly be possessive regarding 'copyright' since I'm conscious of frequently transgressing with regard to such matters, in the public interest you understand.

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    3. Maybe this is what we should ask people of this blog to contribute; examples of where we have done things for free to enhance the lives we work with, showing them that whilst they have made mistakes, they are still human beings who are part of our community. It might highlight to those bidders that we do not do this job for the money, we do it because we care, because we do what is right for those with work with and victims, both past and future. This ethos is going to be lost if staff are allowed to leave or become demoralised and be turned into robots where the mantra will be, make profit at all costs.

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    4. I recently helped an offender move house - only a couple of streets away, did about 3 car journeys - all in my own time after a long day in the office. Didn't go in the house mind as I hadn't filled in a homevisit form - a hanging offence in our office.

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    5. "Didn't go in the house mind as I hadn't filled in a home visit form - a hanging offence in our office." ROFL!

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  9. 30 years in - have you tried this - apols if you have.

    http://www.insidetime.org/docs/ThePrisonerFunderDirectory-21013.pdf

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  10. With thought to 30 years in comment above, maybe its time to enlighten and educate the bidders for TR contracts to the things they'll get free of cost when they sign the contract.
    I'm thinking about all the red tape that prevents you from doing whats needed.
    I'm thinking about trying to arrange a video link with a prison where there aren't enough staff and it takes weeks to achieve. Its frustrating now but in a target driven market its also likely to be very costly.
    I'm thinking about the Sunday paper headlines where a SFO has happened and the probation service are held up as being the agency responsible for it happening.
    Maybe a future blog, perhaps when theres not much occuring, could invite commentators to give the TR bidders some ideas about all the wonderful things they'll get for free if they are lucky enough to win a contract?

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  11. Thank you for the suggested site, I have forwarded it to work and will go through it tomorrow. Andrew - anything I post is up for grabs, in addition to it being personally cathartic, I hope it serves to remind and support people, who feel brow beaten by others - those who walk in straight lines.

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  12. More pressure for Grayling.

    http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/uk-prison-chief-urges-investigation-after-spike-jail-suicides-1443624

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    1. The chief inspector of prisons has called for an urgent investigation into the sharp rise in the number of suicides in UK jails.

      Nick Hardwick said that unless action is taken, the prison service could face a scandal on the scale of that faced by Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, where poor care was held to be responsible for patient deaths.

      In an interview with the Sunday Times, he described the deaths as a "warning sign" and urged ministers to look "objectively and very hard" into the cause of the rise.

      "I am not satisfied that this is being given the urgency and priority it needs. Were these increases in deaths to happen in any other area, there would be an outcry.

      "It is really important the system doesn't try to explain this away," he said.

      In 2013-14 there were 89 suicides in jail, up from 51 in 2012-13.
      Among the deaths last year were 37 prisoners on suicide watch.

      In 2013, there were also four alleged prison homicides, the highest number since 1998, according to Ministry of Justice figures.

      Hardwick said that a reduction in the number of prison officers, sweeping reforms, and the removal of inmate privileges could all be playing a role.

      The poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy and other leading authors have urged justice secretary Chris Grayling to overturn a recent ban on sending books to prisoners, and thousands of people have signed a petition protesting against the ban.

      Grayling said that the ban was necessary to ensure that drugs were not smuggled into prisons.

      Speaking in January, Howard League for Penal Reform chief executive Frances Crook said that prisons are incapable of keeping inmates safe.

      "The responsibility for an increase in the number of people who take their own lives in prison lies squarely with those who advocate putting behind bars more and more people who do not need to be there," she said.

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  13. I have followed this blog for a long time, it has seen me through hard times and Jim, you have my gratitude for this and I really do salute you.
    I am a PO and NAPO activist and have tried so hard to fight this whole process. I have lost all faith in my employer, my managers, my colleagues, the political process and my union. I find myself in a frame of mind such as I have never previously experienced.
    I am going to progressively remove myself from my union role because it is the only honourable thing to do.I feel really upset by the way Chivalry Road has failed to listen, provide information or understand that amongst the membership there are a number of people with transferable skills that could have been drawn on for an intelligent fight against TR instead of all the posturing and veiled promise of JR. For example in my trust alone, 2 former accountants, a solicitor and barrister all retrained as POs and would have willingly worked on projects for the union to pick apart some of the huge amount of TR information deliberately designed by the MOJ to confuse. I am tired of FT officials patronising us.
    I no longer wish to work with some colleagues but will have to and so, will endeavour to remain professional.
    I have no idea what tasks I will have to deliver in my role in future. I no longer have a career and any idea of serving the community in which I work has been blown away for the profit of shareholders.
    A job search has brought me down to earth and I realise I cannot vote with my feet and find alternative work easily. I have family commitments and can not just resign.
    However, what I can do is deliver precisely what my employer directs me to in the time available. During my TR training I was buzzing with ideas about how to get some of the tasks done, how to plug the gaps to make it work and yet I did not speak up or offer suggestions on post-it notes to be collated by the trainers and submitted to NOMS.
    The change in me is irreversible for I have lost faith in my capacity to make a difference and quite frankly, have lost the will to do so. I work at least an hour less a day than I used to by leaving on time but feel dissatisfied doing so, this is not how I have worked in all of my years as a PO. I will work until I am made redundant and deliver what my employer deserves.
    Sad PO

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    1. This could be describing exact hoe I now feel and for my personal health I too feel their is no choice but to withdraw from the fight x

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    2. Resistance of a passive 'please tell me exactly what to do' kind will go a long way to heaving the engine off the tracks.....

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  14. I don’t believe for one second that people have ‘got their heads down and just getting on with it’. The reality is that there is no alternative option accept to ‘get on with it’. The way staff have been treated has been an absolute shambles. People have been allocated to CRC & three weeks later discover to their shock that jobs are being advertised in the NPS. Then told they are not allowed to transfer but have to apply.
    NAPO and UNISON have both lost credibility and have been inactive. Sorry, active in terms of developing probation Institute funded by the MOJ. Now, what does that says about our Unions. The strike was good but wasting precious time on how well we did – is not good enough. We have to quickly move on from this and start planning the next course of action. My concern are (and the signs are already showing) that TR issues is likely to go off the agenda as NAPO starts to plan for AGM and work out a strategy to defend PI. Frankly, I don’t give a toss about PI or the AGM. What I care about is being supported in my work and to slow/stop the privatisation of probation. No member can do this on their own – we need the Union behind us. I hope someone reads this and starts to lay out a course of action with clear cut action plan.

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    1. I totally agree with you. I have been fighting every step of the way, been in the service 30 year and have seen many changes but this one seems one too big to fight on my own, why can't we contact one another and make noises, sod the unions, they don't seem to have any backbone, I keep asking unison to re ballot for strike, but don't seem to get heard. I fear that none of us are getting heard singularly we need to get together and stage a walk out before its too late. Even the solicitors seem to have a better plan than us.

      The sifting process definitely needed to have a judicial review, the criteria changed the very next day with NPS now taking all Mappa level 1 cases, what are the CRC Probation officers going to do, have they all been sent to slaughter.


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  15. Shouting out to Sad PO - given time all things change and nearly everything is reversible...don't doubt yourself, I am certain you have both the will and capacity to continue to make a difference and take pride in doing so. Expressing your feelings on this blog is, in itself, a determined and conscientious act. The way I am dealing with their efforts to break my resolve, question my integrity and erase my humanity is to stay true to who I am and my Probation Values; what's the worst that can happen? If they want me to dance, I will, but I'll chose when, the music and the venue. I will continue to invest in those we work with face to face and do my best to limit the harm done to them, victims and my profession all the way. Dig in, you are not on your own!

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  16. 30 years, That's the way I feel too. History is chock-a-block of people that resist, people that will never give in. The human spirit is unquenchable and indeed this thing that we are on now is massive boon to the resistance. We are able to organise in ways previously unimaginable.

    papa

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  17. I am a PSO with a decade and a half experience of the job in many different roles within the service. Now allocated to the NPS as a court officer in a parochial northern town. I totally agree with the idea that court staff can start to make life very difficult by dotting all the "I's" and crossing all the "T's", taking the allocated length of time to complete a stand down report and the assessment forms and generally assisting with bringing the whole rotten process to a grinding halt. I do wonder when newly sentenced offenders get wind of the fact that they will have to attend a lengthy assessment interview immediately after coming out of court, when all they want to do is get out of the building very rapidly, how many will excuse themselves to use the toilet downstairs in the court building and leg it out of the main door. How then is the assessment going to be completed in the required 24 hours...... Are we meant to chase them down the road begging them to come back so that we can tick more boxes and meet the targets?

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    Replies
    1. With solicitors not taking on new legal aid referals and probation staff dotting the i's and t's and finding security to find the client who's just exited through the bog window, the courts are going to play a considerable roll in fighting Graylings CJ reforms.
      To my mind that indicates considerable backlogs in cases, which in turn is likely to lead to more offences committed by people on extended periods of bail, which in turn leads to more attracting a custodial sentence.
      But not to worry. Grayling assures us all that theres plenty of spaces in our prisons still.
      Maybe he's planning on using the library spaces as dormatories???

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  18. Is the story true that Tim Rendon applied for a management post in a CRC?

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    Replies
    1. Nice little ACE post, skipping middle management (POM) position. How do you like that. Welcome to the new world!!!
      That not even the full story yet. Wait till you see what else has been going on with your nice generous subs.

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    2. Anon 20.59 are you able to elaborate?
      Deb

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    3. Yes it's true and I made the following observation a few days ago:-

      "Yes a very good point and just another illustration sadly of the utter dysfunctionality of Napo at the top. A very unwise move politically in the middle of this struggle to add to all the other very unwise moves by other people at the top in Napo.

      BUT we are where we are as they say and bad as it is we have to try and get the good ship Napo, holed and rudderless as it is, patched up and back steaming full ahead in the right direction. This can happen by the membership making their voices clear in a variety of ways, including this blog.

      Things have improved - the information flow, for example by direct emails to members has vastly improved. After much prevarication, things are at last moving on Judicial Review, although it may be too late.

      There's no doubt the Chair has made some unwise decisions, but while he remains Chair I think he must be supported and encouraged to make the right decisions, especially in getting a grip on the activities of the paid staff at Chivalry Road, exercise some firm leadership and make the most of Grayling's current difficulties. There's plenty of time for recriminations further down the line, starting at the AGM I suppose.

      It's a bloody mess - but it's been a mess at the top in Napo for so many years it's almost like situation normal. The breakout of free speech just might improve things."

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    4. I ' d read your post Jim. I was more interested in what our subs might be being spent on that we ought to know about.
      Deb

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    5. Deb,

      I don't know what that's a reference to, unless it's yet another elephant in the room at Napo HQ namely the £135,000 payoff to a former employee.

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    6. I think 'Jim Brown' is right,

      "but it's been a mess at the top in Napo for so many years it's almost like situation normal. The breakout of free speech just might improve things."

      I still remember when Eithne Wallis was at the top of the probation tree and having a Q & A at a Napo AGM, I just managed to get my question in,(can't remember what it was) but she 'forgot' to answer, the chair ruled - time up - everyone wanted morning coffee - I bellowed and bellowed and obviously looked a fool - but the question never got answered, nor did I get an apology from the chair - but it seemed like collusion to me.

      As a disabled person, neurologically, so that organisation is very difficult - I did not use Napo's processes to challenge, but it was by determined challenges, using the constitution, organising between and throughout general meetings NAG, over a few years turned Napo from an organisation, not prepared to really speak up for itself ( Donald Bell) was general secretary, that Napo got to a position where one of those who challenged the stance of the Bellites, Bill Beaumont, became chair and later general secretary.

      Ordinary members have General Meetings, and their branch representatives on the NEC, maybe even now it is not too late if folk behind this blog, get together, with their constitutions - very quickly, and form some plans - Napo is the members' organisation and makes policy on the basis of the majority of votes cast and acts on its policy by the people voted into office and on to the national committees.

      Last week , Tania Bassett, tweeted that she 'thought' there were vacancies on the Communications committee (she should have known), but obviously the communications strategy is not working as the members wish - it will not be possible, to get it to achieve the members desires, because how PR is received is beyond the communicators control.

      This morning I scanned the Guardian's - Prisons & Probation section - there are numerous articles written about prisoners books (an issue that became live on 1st November 2013) and none on the current scandals in probation about the way TR is being carried out.

      Also last week, I got between a spat between an ex con and a journo and broadcaster on "phone ins"- who had written a thoughtful piece but got stuff wrong

      http://www.midhurstandpetworth.co.uk/news/columnists/duncan-barkes-reading-s-a-right-not-a-privilege-even-in-jail-1-5977091

      He replied to me on Twitter : "You need a couple of vocal campaigners on your side."

      https://twitter.com/DuncanBarkes/status/452763740413636608

      He is right.

      I also read a comment letter to Tony Benn's obituary

      "Hugh Kerr writes: When I was selected as the Labour candidate for the European parliamentary seat of Essex West and Hertfordshire East in 1994, the Labour party was a little doubtful, since I was a known left wing socialist. However, since all seven Westminster seats that made up the constituency were Tory-held, the party didn't believe I would win, so let me run. My brief was: "No money, staff or speakers, just keep the Tories busy!" I invited Tony Benn to head up my opening rally but, knowing his strong anti-EU views, not to speak about Europe. He gave a wonderful half-hour speech on socialism to 500 people, we raised £5,000, and I was elected three weeks later."

      http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/apr/03/tony-benn

      Napo activists might learn from such.


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  19. Although the cheating, lying, thieving MPs aint going to pay any heed, I think its excellent that this blog allows the reality of the work probation staff and the incumbents' commitment to to that work be aired.

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  20. Just skimmed through kuipers' blog, very interesting reading. Love the solicitors' advisory regarding bidders' contracts that the Authority (nps/moj/noms) is absolved of any failure to supply information, or the supply of incorrect information... BUT, it doesn't work the other way round.

    Bidders, take a peep - joe kuipers' blog entitled "Elpis Lives".

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  21. Probation Officer6 April 2014 at 20:51

    Alot of us feel like Anonymous 6 April 2014 16:04 - you're not alone!!

    More front-line staff are sharing experiences, and here another Probation Officer has written about the job at this blog...

    On Probation Too: Musings of a Probation Officer

    ... which is also posted here as the Napo Forum with a few others.

    I look forward to reading others.

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  22. I have written a response to an Article in The Sunday Times - headed -

    "Alarm at sudden rise in jail suicides"

    That article may not be available to all because of a paywall, so I have put my comments in the Napo Forum - I will be grateful if current practitioners will advise whether I am accurately representing anticipation, which has been expressed in this blog and elsewhere by practitioners.

    http://www.napo2.org.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=613

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