Saturday 15 February 2014

What Jackart Actually Said

By invoking those famously ironic words of Mrs Merton the other day 'lets have a heated debate', I rather hoped more light than heat would be generated. Unfortunately it did rather degenerate and I can't help feeling it was a bit of a lost opportunity. Here is what Jackart actually said, and I think if it is read carefully you will see there is rather more to agree on than some have implied:-

The fact is I read your blog because I agree with you about how prisoners are failed by society, and much of criminality is either a result of mental illness or the war on drugs. But most of the rest is facilitated (if not actually caused) by the grotesque incentives of the welfare state.

Too many people who should enjoy mental health support, instead enjoy police attention.

Getting an offender out of the habit of a lifetime requires more than dumping him on the street with £50 odd quid, but ensuring he's unemployable (CRB checks etc...) and investment in the Probation service strikes me as one of the better investments a government can make.

But.

Much of the social work agenda BEFORE people get to gaol, seems designed to foster dependence upon the state, something that becomes near total when they go to gaol.

My point is not that I know what to do about it, or even that you're wrong but you've gone from being constructive and interesting to shrill and bitter and it detracts from, rather than adds to your argument.


Is all.

The Government is dealing with the big picture problem - a decade of Labour overspend due to the inflated tax-bills by bubbly banks. When this easy money dried up, so did the fat years for all state employees. I've seen my other employer (the army) cut to the bone, police numbers cut, the NHS facing real terms cuts and so forth. All of this is necessary because the Labour party spent too much, taxed as much as they could and left no slack when the music stopped.

Some acknowledgement that savings must be made wouldn't go amiss.


I think it would be fair to assume that Jackart doesn't know a great deal about probation, but I do know he's been reading this blog for some time and has previously quoted from it supportively. Educating the public was one of my prime aims in beginning it in the first place. He makes it clear that I've:-

"gone from being constructive and interesting to shrill and bitter and it detracts from, rather than adds to your argument."

I think this observation is entirely understandable because we are engaged in a fight for survival of an entire profession and ethos. We all know that probation is never going to be the same post TR and that's precisely why so many colleagues are throwing in the towel and leaving. We also know that what is being proposed is entirely unworkable and likely to be highly dangerous. Of course in such circumstances voices are going to become a little shrill, but I believe this blog still endeavours to discuss the evidence and debate the issues. 

I disagree completely with those that say the argument with Jackart has been pointless as it is always worth rehearsing why we feel we are right in opposing this whole TR omnishambles and in particular that it has never been solely about self-interest. We have always been as concerned about the effect on clients and the public. I should also mention that we have been accused of becoming a mutual admiration society and of preaching to the converted. 

Finally, Jackart ends by saying:-

"Some acknowledgement that savings must be made wouldn't go amiss." 

Regular readers will be more than aware that I have continually highlighted where savings needed to be made in terms of bureaucracy and in particular tackling bloated Trust Head Offices.

Should the debate have any mileage left in it, I think it would be helpful if it addressed what Jackart says here:-


"Much of the social work agenda BEFORE people get to gaol, seems designed to foster dependence upon the state, something that becomes near total when they go to gaol."

44 comments:

  1. When I think of how those dependent on welfare are being hammered during this period of austerity I see prejudice underpinning Jackart's premise. Where is the evidence that the social work agenda fosters dependence? What is the agenda? Child protection, learning and mental disabilities, working with the frail and elderly. In what ways does fostering dependence become 'near total when they go to gaol?' A high percentage of prisoners have been in local authority care. Is that to be blamed on the social work agenda or on a host of social factors that are rooted in socio-economic conditions? Does economic equality have nothing to do with why some individuals are judged to fail and get categorised as deserving or undeserving? Is it OK to be dependent if you are mentally ill, but not if you are unemployed? There is always this tendency to pathologise individuals. Some may well be pathological, but if you are in search of wider explanations then you must look to the social, economic and political. Tell me why some societies have fewer social problems? The best explanations I have come across in recent times are to to found in the The Spirit Level – a book that shows that it's economic inequalities that are at the root of many of the problems that social workers and the rest have to deal with.

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    1. The spirit level is VERY selective with its data. http://spiritleveldelusion.blogspot.co.uk/
      My point is the welfare state seems designed to increase dependence. My solution
      http://brackenworld.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/who-advocates-for-poor.html

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  2. 'What Jackart Actually Said' is probably best reflected on his blog, particularly the Thursday, 13 February 2014 entry 'Angry Public Sector Workers Shout At Me' .

    Apparently your comments section - the views of your readers, mostly Probation workers - is a 'toxic, tribal hate-fest' and 'A circle-jerk of indignation from people who enjoyed public spending...which, when the golden goose was killed, suddenly dried up'.

    Jackart goes on , 'The public sector are now having a 2 minute hate against the people, like me and millions of others who pay taxes but don't take much back. The profit motive is not bad, nor does it lead to worse outcomes than any alternative. Lord save us from the good intentions of public-sector busybodies'.

    I think my favourite part, though, might be 'There is no comfortable parasitic elite, earning off the poor down-trodden worker'

    Make no mistake, the guy is a right wing reactionary - a proponent of the ideology of selfishness and hatred of the lower orders that is dismantling our work as we speak. We have more important things, and better things to think about that the poisonous rantings of this pathetic Gordon Gekko wannabe

    http://brackenworld.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/what-you-have-in-comments-here-is.html

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    1. Anon 16:07 - I could not agree more and had I read your comment before I posted, I wouldn't have bothered. I was only feeding his ego!

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    2. Ok ok guys - maybe I'm losing the plot....lol

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    3. He aint no surfer either. RIP Jackass.

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    4. "a proponent of the ideology of selfishness and hatred of the lower orders that is dismantling our work as we speak..." It's one of the sillier mental ticks of the left to ascribe malice to their opponents.

      It's comforting, like masturbation, but ultimately futile. Because the free market is ultimately right. The 20th century proved it.

      What you've got to prove is that probation is worth the cost, and that the reforms you're complaining about are bad, beyond the normal public sector resistance to any and all change.

      Probation is extremely worthwhile, indeed it is one of the few public services which offer a return on investment, but your case against the reforms is, to my mind, not yet proven.

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    5. Right wing politics IS malice incarnate. You know as well as we do that you're attracted to it because you think it gives some sort of credence or intellectual justification to your profound selfishness and your contempt for the people you enjoy thinking are somehow weaker or lesser than you. Any claim to the contrary about right wing politics is laughable, particularly the pathetic attempts to cast the world and all of human endeavour in terms of your treasured concepts of investment, profit and material value. It would be funny if it wasn't so revolting.

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    6. 'It's comforting, like masturbation'? There's only one Investment Banker posting here...

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  3. It should always be remembered that Probatuon is an alternative to a much more expensive alternative, Prison. Spend more on that and less on prisons and you get improved outcomes AND reduced costs. Jackart won't know this.

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  4. Is the candidate for Hitchin Highbury Jackart, or Papa Jackart?

    http://www.north-herts.gov.uk/text/item_7_elections.pdf

    The debate was a grand idea, the reality of Jackart's comments elsewhere were, sadly, vile.

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    1. That was a long time ago. And I lost.

      I love the way lefties describe anyone who disagrees, or who enjoys colourful invective, as "vile". This is why you people should never be in charge. You're intolerant in the extreme

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    2. And this from a man who says on his blog that he'd like to smash Polly Toynbee in the face with a hammer. Presumably to demonstrate how open he is to considering different view points...

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    3. C'Mon. It was a lump-hammer. Anyway Polly Toynbee is very annoying. And I did indicate that I wasn't serious in the footnotes.

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  5. Edward Snowden is a right wing Libertarian but he is a current hero of mine. Seems that the right and the left are strange bedfellows in a fight for freedom. I'm of the left by the way, boy things are so complex.

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  6. Who gives a toss 'what Jackart actually said'? I for one am not interested in Mr Bracken's views. He is a wannabe writer who rants about anything that offends his right wing bigotted view of the world. As to what he did say .... Netnipper dealt with this....In any event his premise is bollox. Social work has never fostered dependence ....the whole thrust of what we do has been to encourage self reliance. When we don't it's because the 'social worked' person is already 'at the end of the road' and has no self reliance resources left. Instead of picking a fight with hard pressed public service workers perhaps Mr Bracken should switch off his laptop, ignore his 'blog' for a bit and go out and do something socially useful himself. Instead he dresses up in his uniform every weekend and acts out his absurd little dream of an England long gone!

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  7. Have a look at this little rant from our Tory Councillor friend from Hitchin:-
    http://brackenworld.blogspot.co.uk/2006/11/britain-is-dying.html

    He refers to Scottish people as 'Porridge wogs'.

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  8. A tenuous political link but worth a look, the Lib Dems are in York for their spring conference should NAPO or Unison or anyone else wish to remind this weak link what a shambles TR is. Conference details link below.
    http://www.libdems.org.uk/siteFiles/resources/docs/conference/2014-Spring/CA&D%202014%20spring%20clear.pdf

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  9. I'm working now in an office in which experienced officers have been sifted into the CRC and newly qualified PO's have been sifted into NPS. It seems the criteria is not totally objective either. Apparently the trusts have been given flexibility to adjust their criteria depending on local delivery unit needs. One can't help to conclude this has been used to 'adjust' staffing decisions in a discriminatory way so that 'if your face fits' the new reality a way will be found to make sure you are in NPS. Surely NAPO needs to legally challenge this 'sifting' process.

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  10. Well I'm feeling aggrieved that I'm going to be working for a 2nd rate organisation all because I dared to get pregnant. It is clear that If I had kept my legs closed I would have had the full compliment of cases which would have enabled me to get into NPS. I love my daughter and I would never swap her for the world but I feel discriminated against because of this.

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    1. I do feel for you as a friend of mine is in a similar situation. Unfortunately for you and her, you are, in Graylings brave new world, little more that collateral damage. Your dreams and ambitions sacrificed at the alter of greed and for nothing more than a need to prove that his 'gut feeling' was right.

      Somebody previously made an analogy between the Eddie Murphy film 'Trading Places' and TR. Difficult not to draw comparisons. However, CRC will be what you and your colleagues make it ;)

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  11. How weird, I just had a similar conversation with someone, who said the same thing....

    Mr Grayling knows how to make friends................. memo to Trusts....'your sacked, no your not, your sacked, no your not...well, not yet.' What a way to treat people? It beggars belief.

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    1. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. Listen to The Great and Powerful Oz :)

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  12. Where did you hear this?
    Smudger

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  13. I understand there is an update on the MoJ website, showing a new timetable.

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    1. Can't find it? Anyone got any more info on this??

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  14. Link to MOJ site dated 11/02/14

    http://www.justice.gov.uk/transforming-rehabilitation

    Reading MOJ website you can quickly work out the NOMS is where all probation funds are wasted to the detriment of front line services. How about a radical solution get rid of NOMS and invest more in frontline probation staff. O but TR is the way forward, the fragmentation of probation, more bureaucracy, profiteers making money on the back of others suffering, profiteers who have no track record in probation work, charities who appear to be prepared to sell their principles, these are the pro TR mob. On the other hand you have experienced and professional probation staff, PCCs, common sense national and local politicians, police leaders and staff, prison staff , academics, religious leaders, social commentators, judges, QCs, barristers, solicitors, plus service users and tens of thousands of members of the public opposed to TR.

    potential profiteers interested in probation need to be mindful that 'if' TR happens, ' if' contracts are signed, the level of scrutiny from others will be immense, probation professional from within who will whistle blow at the first opportunity, politicians who will publicly hold profiteers to account (the potential massive impact on corporate brand, litigation issues, compensation, fines etc), religious leaders and other social commentators who will highlight the impact the TR experiment has had on large sections of the community, other organisation such as the courts, legal professionals, police, prison who will dismay at the mess the CJS has been turned into as a result of TR and Legal aid cuts. And some 'well meaning charities and not for profit organisations' being seduced into getting into bed with ruthless corporation, who very quickly realise 'what the hell have they done'. And not forgetting NAPO who misguidedly signed up to be part of the probation institute (others can comment in the rights and wrongs if that)

    Well there you have it. If I was a profiteer or a charity or a NFP organisation/project I wouldn't touch the TR experiment with a barge pole. The Risks attached are mind blowing, lets see the Risks the following are prepared to take, and ask if they are prepared to take this type of high level risks, what does that say about their attitudes on the notion of risk to the public????

    Interserve
    Northern inc
    Working links
    A4e
    Capita
    Sodexo
    GEO
    Shaw trust
    Pertemps
    Etc etc

    Hope the shareholders and trustees of these companies/organisations are prepared for the flack that will come their way, because grayling and his mob will be nowhere to be seen.


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    1. I agree that, when (and not if) this goes pear shaped, Grayling and his cronies will simply point to the individual companies and walk away with a smug smile on his face, ready to have another go at privatising and part of the public sector. Don't forget that he has form for this and the charities involved in the Work Programme soon discovered that being kissing partners with bigger businesses does not mean that at some stage you will not end up sobbing in your pillow!!

      There appears to be much said about getting ready for the transition etc but does anyone know when we will actually find out which company is coming in to pick at the dead carcass of Probation? And more importantly, will we will able to see their bids and business plan. I'm sure that someone at the MOJ will be able to photocopy the back of a fag packet!!

      Oh, and if 'interested' companies/charities are reading this, let me assure you that there will be as much whistle blowing as there is intransigence!!!

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  15. For me it's simple.
    You either subscribe to a government that wants to srink the state and focused only on profit and less accountability, or you believe that there's something that's worth doing, that needs to be done, just because it does need doing where profit shouldn't be the primary focus.
    This government have gone to far, and need to go at the next election.
    Don't give up your vote- vote them out, tell the world!!
    Osbourne, Cameron, Grayling, IDS, you've got it so very wrong- good bye in 2015.

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  16. My source saw the altered timeline, but states it is no longer there and the site was updated on Tues, so something afoot. You may wish to check out:

    http://www.russellwebster.com/10-things-tom2-taught-me-about-tr/

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  17. Another Russell Webster bit:
    http:/russellwebster.com/updated-timeline-for-transforming-rehabilitation-competition/

    Timescale

    Transforming Rehabilitation is operating to a rapid timescale and envisages new providers delivering reducing reoffending services from April 2015. The timeline is subject to continual changes, but this is the latest version (based on my own interpretation rather than a definitive public document):
    Future of probation timeline 4th edition 20 Jan 2014

    Looks like the MoJ have removed their version form website.

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  18. There's more joy and excitement to come. Hopefully Mr Brown has received the link to the MoJ's transparency website. In the meantime, here are some gems from within the draft contract documents (NB: its very important to note they are only in draft form !?!). This is NOT a skit, I assure you. Our caseloads are being re-defined in more ways than we could possibly have imagined:

    "Offender Types" are defined as "Allocated Persons", "Designated Retained Persons", or "Resettlement Persons".

    Reference to the accompanying MoJ "Definitions and Interpretations" document tells us:

    * Allocated Person has the meaning given to it in Clause 3.3 (haven't found that yet)

    * Designated Retained Person means a person in respect of whom the Authority requires certain of the Services

    * Resettlement Person means a person who:

    (a) has been remanded, sentenced or committed, to custody in a Resettlement Prison; and
    (b) has been assigned to the Contractor or the Community Rehabilitation Company, as the case may be, by the Authority to receive Resettlement Services

    The MoJ document defines the National Probation Service as: "the probation services provided by the Authority with respect to Retained Persons." Then we have to flip back through to the "R" section -

    "Retained Person has the meaning given to in Clause 3.4" (still haven't found the Clauses)

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    1. If you thought CRC was easy to define: "Community Rehabilitation Company means a person who will enter, or has entered into, an Probation Services Agreement - then you were wrong:

      * Home CRC means the Contractor or a Community Rehabilitation Company, as the case may be, which has an Allocated Person under a Probation Services Agreement who is in custody in a Resettlement Prison designated to a Lead Host CRC under a Probation Services Agreement;

      * Host CRC means:
      (a) the Contractor or a Community Rehabilitation Company, as the case may be, that has a Resettlement Person in custody in a Resettlement Prison designated to it under a Probation Services Agreement who is also (i) an Allocated Person of the Contractor or that Community Rehabilitation Company, as the case may be, or (ii) a Person on Remand who has an address located in the Contract Package Area of the Contractor or that Community Rehabilitation Company, as the case may be; and (b) with respect to the Contractor as a Lead Host CRC, each Community Rehabilitation Company set out in Part 4 of Schedule 3 (Contract Package Area);

      * Lead Host CRC means the Contractor or a Community Rehabilitation Company, as the case may be, that has a Resettlement Person in custody in a Resettlement Prison designated to it under a Probation Services Agreement (whether or not that person is also an Allocated Person under that Probation Services Agreement);

      I really do need to change my medication - this is fun.

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    2. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahha *pauses for breath* hahahahahahahahahahahha.

      head/desk
      head/desk
      head/desk

      You really could not make this stuff up. I'm just waiting to see what we'll be called.

      I've always wanted to be a 'Designated Retained Person' Officer.
      Or even an Allocated Person Manager.

      I'm not sure what to have as my signature email....maybe just a avatar of me with a gun in my mouth, rope round my neck and balanced on a rickety 3 legged stool!!!

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    3. One or two more for luck -

      * Returning Employees means the individuals employed by the Contractor or a subcontractor who are engaged in the provision of the Services at the Exit Transfer Date;

      * Supervisor has the meaning given to it in section 256AA(8) of the CJA; [Explanatory Note: This is subject to parliamentary approval of the Offender Rehabilitation Bill.]

      * Supervising Officer means a person responsible for the supervision of an Applicable Person on licence;

      * Applicable Person means any or all of an Allocated Person, a Resettlement Person or a Designated Retained Person;

      * Subcontractor means a person engaged by the Contractor from time to time as may be permitted by this Agreement to provide, or contribute to the provision of, the Services (or any of them) and a reference to a subcontractor means a subcontractor (of any tier) of the Contractor;

      And so we can finish on a high, and I can finally be sedated:

      * Fair Value means:
      (a) the price agreed between the Authority and the Contractor; or
      (b) failing agreement pursuant to (a), the price which the Independent Accountants state in writing to be, in their opinion, the fair value of the New Assets on the basis of a sale between a willing seller and a willing purchaser on the Termination Date in accordance with the Valuation Policies.

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  19. Anyone any experience of going through the appeal process - the meeting with Chief and Head of Personnel, I am supporting a colleague later today, just wondered if there are any tips out there. They are not a union member.

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    1. tips for non union members - join a trade union

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  20. Does everybody meet with such a panel or is only certain people....

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  21. I meet with my ACPO and my union Rep. The process was good for me the ACPO supported my position and with TR changing all the time there was a certain vagueness at times. My grievance was partly upheld now I have to go to appeal.

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    1. What is the criteria for gpong to panel....

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  22. Like a latter-day Pontius Pilate, Napo did not sign up to the sifting criteria though it's obvious this is is impacting on some individuals – some will be successful with their appeals but the majority won't be. On the ground it's individuals with help from local Reps and colleagues who are battling. The union leadership can't do anything about it – except to say, 'We didn't sign up to it'.

    The same worries are being expressed in the Napo Forums. There's the odd diehard optimist who still rabbits on about Napo's strategy to derail TR, but such arguments move closer to fantasy with each passing day. I heard about the Stockdale Paradox at the weekend and the Napo leadership should perhaps study it. In a nutshell it says, by all means hold to your ideals and hopes, but at the SAME time you must confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.

    Napo did sign up to the Framework Agreement and a seat at the MoJ sponsored Probation Institute but has left some of its members facing dogfights in the sifting arena.

    Napo is preparing to change its constitution to adapt its structures to mirror TR. Napo does not agree with TR – Napo did not agree with seconding probation workers to prisons and wasn't keen on community service when it was being piloted – but it adapted. Unison, the sleeping and erstwhile partner, has been through all this before in other sectors and knows what to expect and has the infrastructure to deal with numerous employing companies. If Napo isn't careful perceptions of its conduct during these times may negate future recruitment. There will be a fight on in the future to retain existing members and recruit new ones.

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  23. For 'what jackart actually said' have a look through his charming blog:

    ' I don't think anti-discrimination laws were ever needed on this side of the pond.'

    'The answer to inequality is not "increase benefits", but instead lies in removing the option of not working by removing them'

    'The reason cleaners are Polish and Sierra Leonneian is because a Native Brit can get the same money for popping out feral sprogs, unsupported by whichever casual acquaintance's sperm happened to get lucky. Likewise bricklayers are Polish because the Brit is likely to be begetting bastards and drinking special brew'

    The welfare state is a disaster for its "beneficiaries" who lose aspiration and self-respect and everyone else, who pays for it'

    'I did live with a homosexualist once, and I thought him to be a splendid chap. Very clean. So long as I don't have to watch the act itself, I have no problem with people of any orientation'

    'section 28, which prevents loony lefties teaching ideas which are disagreeable to the majority of people'

    'Homosexuals have not yet made the case to the majority of people that their minority lifestyle should be presented as 'normal' '

    'Women take the less risky wage-slave option. Choices explain the wage gap'

    'what's wrong with laughing at foreigners'

    http://brackenworld.blogspot.co.uk

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  24. Slightly off topic I know, but a difficult day at the office. Around 2pm a disgruntled client smashed his way through a glass security door before attempting to smash his way through the glass frontage on reception at our busy office, using a baseball bat. Reception staff were slightly hurt by flying glass and obviously psychologically very shaken, especially the new receptionist. The client left without being apprehended so colleagues were clearly concerned he may come back. From the little I know of this client he would be managed by the CRC in the new world order. Am wondering how much of THIS reality found its way into the Grayling spin brochures issued to the prospective CRC buyers. Just HOW MUCH LONGER do we need to keep saying that probation is about so much more than let-me-help-you-find-a-job-and-somewhere-to-live-and-everything-will-be-alright.
    I make no apologies for shouting.
    Deb

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  25. Don't forget to forward the breach papers to the NPS to see if your thoughts on possibly breaching this client are correct

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