Coppers 2

The Channel 4 tv programme 'Coppers' continues to provide fascinating 'fly-on-the-wall' viewing and last night's episode devoted quite a bit of time to someone very familiar to many old-style probation officers. I suspect every town in the land still has a Danny, even though most don't make it into old age, let alone middle age. Although most officers being interviewed about Danny made it clear in typical gallows-humour style that it would do everyone a favour if he just shuffled off this mortal coil, they obviously had a soft spot for him, but were completely at a loss how to help. And why should they - they're not social workers are they? But as the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester said a year or two back, that's who he effectively employs, hundreds and hundreds of 'social workers.'

Danny and his ilk have been a problem for society for many, many years. Probably the product of a very unhappy childhood, he failed at school, started 'getting into trouble' and just couldn't make a smooth transition into independent life. A secure home, relationship and employment  all eluded him and as a result he sought refuge and comfort in alcohol and drugs from an early age. Those substances are slowly killing him, as is the weather due to living on the streets. We're told he shuns help and I have no doubt this is partly true, but what is society's answer to this social problem? Why ASBO him of course. He's banned from the whole centre of the town where he grew up and that gives police a steady job interminably re-arresting him when he inevitably breaches the ASBO. A ridiculous merry-go-round of arrest, interview, court, prison, release and back to 'go' again. 

So what's the alternative? Well it will come as no surprise to hear that Danny used to be the responsibility of the Probation Service. When I started we were all social work trained and the Service took seriously it's legacy social welfare work with waifs and strays. But then so did society in general. Even up to the late 1980's, the State in the form of the DHSS still ran a nationwide network of hostels dedicated to helping the likes of Danny. But there were other providers too, the Church Army, Salvation Army and Local Authorities to name but some. They all provided help and support so that probation had a fighting chance when undertaking the often difficult and patient work of trying to turn the likes of Danny's life around.

I'm often asked if it worked? My answer cannot in all honesty be a trite 'yes'. Of course for some it worked, but remember probation only really see the 'failures.' For others it could be said to have failed, but I don't agree for the following reasons. Firstly, all probation officers quite quickly learned in those days that 'failure' just meant the guy wasn't ready yet and therefore you just had to try again, possibly something slightly different. Secondly, it was a much more humane way to treat people. I suspect I could now add a third which would never have occurred to me at the time and that would be that it was just 'cheaper.' 

Of course nowadays in the modern Probation Service we are all concerned about 'efficiencies and effectiveness.' The likes of Danny doesn't get a look in at all. He's low risk and therefore simply of no interest to us. Oh, and for good measure we'd say he wasn't suitable for Unpaid Work or any programme we offered and he'd be unlikely to respond to supervision. Every time I watch programmes like 'Coppers' it makes me reflect on why I became a probation officer in the first place and why I often feel so miserable about where we are today. I want to go and interview Danny, pick up the case and get to know him..... 

The rest of this particular episode of 'Coppers' featured officers spending hours getting tangled up with long-running neighbour disputes and possible ways to try and resolve them. Guess which agency of the State used to do that?! And talk to naughty kids, and help resolve child custody battles. Oh happy days......