Wednesday 20 July 2016

Fighting Talk 3

Here we have the final candidate for Napo chair and their pitch:-

Dino Peros

Candidate's Statement Section (a)

National Experience

2008-2010-2012 - Napo National Vice Chair serving for two terms consecutively with responsibilities to the Union Learning Initiative, Also served terms on the National Executive Committee. From 1999-2003 l served for 4 years on the National Negotiating Committee. Within the Negotiating Committee I was involved in pay deal negotiations. I have attended and participated in 20 years of AGM conferences moving motions and supporting members. I was for 3 years Chair of Union Learning Representatives steering team, the Link Officer to the Training Committee. l always worked closely with the Campaigning Committee and was Link Officer for 3 years. Having served as a member on the Equality Committee I then did 3 years as Link Officer. My responsibilities also included Vice Chair Link Officer to Kent, Thames Valley, Surrey & Sussex Branches and Northern Ireland.


While serving on the NNC l was selected to work as one of the National Job Evaluation team. This involved testing and ensuring it was fit for purpose and developing benchmarked posts. The duties include national implementation, training the regional trainers, organising appeals and taking part in appeal hearings. I was also directly involved in implementing the procedures locally and regionally. When serving as Vice Chair I have undertaken a range representations and legal action in some. I have served on disciplinary panels and dealt with matters at the highest level of Napo as a Vice Chair. 

Qualifications/Training
  • TUC stage 1 Negotiating representing members.
  • TUC Stage 2 Collective bargaining.
  • TUC training in Leadership and Union Governance. 
  • Diploma in Employment law.
l am currently the South Southwestern Branch Chair and the lead JNCC representative. I have experience of all representations for all members, including local bargaining and making the changes with the new privatised structures.

Advice and guidance on Job evaluation and pay arrangements, VLOs more recently, training, mentoring and support to JNCC representatives both locally, regionally and nationally.

With 17 years branch JNCC Representative (over ten years of which was full time) | have experience of all Branch roles. I have been the representations coordinator of the branch, including involvement in  employment tribunals.

I have a Diploma in employment Law. l have worked on approximately 120 plus cases for members. l have experience of sickness and capability proceedings.

Section (b)

Napo requires leadership with commitment built on knowledge, achievement and experience with vision and flexibility that can deliver change.

Government action on Probation has been aggressive and ill conceived. To fight this challenge Napo has to change. I can lead that change.

An independent review will enable us to modernise - become fit for purpose and have the best chance to protect our values, our jobs and our conditions.

Membership must be galvanised to use our democratic structures to work with all groups to achieve change. Financial restrictions cannot be ignored but limiting essential investment cannot be used to prop up an ineffective structure.

Our strategy must be to protect all our members' rights and local and national reps must be trained and supported in this. This means real practical commitment to negotiation, equalities and health and safety issues.

Our aims must be clear, articulate and well presented in order to protect the professionalism of all grades. We must further develop our media strategy and our closer working with our TUC partners.

Working across multiple employer is different and can be uncomfortable but we must rise to this challenge and demonstrate we are a capable and effective Union. The decline must be arrested before it becomes too late.

My experience derives from 25 years of representing staff. Through grievance, discipline capability, redundancy, tribunals and negotiating local and national collective agreements. I have the knowledge, the experience, the flexibility, the vision and commitment to bring the necessary change Napo needs.

67 comments:

  1. What this indicates is that Dino has done well out of NAPO and he has fully bought in to the way NAPO do things and continue to do things and why would he want to rock that vote whilst it enables him to avoid actual work with offenders. Dinos ambition is to be a full time trade union official so vote for him if you want him to achieve his personal ambition. NAPO deserves better and brighter. He would be Ian Lawrence's preferred candidate for chair and that may be the most damaging endorsement he could ever have.

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    1. What you think lazy Yvonne and invisible Chris will do better?

      Sorry Chas has more broken promises than the Liberal Democrats under Nick Clegg. Dino is our man.

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    2. 8:32 you clearly haven't a clue about what you are talking about here and no nothing about this candidate if you did you wouldn't be saying this unless of course its just a pathetic attempt to put honest electorates off.

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    3. Please enlighten us what has Yvonne Pattison and Chris Winters achieved in office? I wait with bated breath.

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    4. They lost the judicial review and never published the facts it was another cover up. Claimed it was a ruling to keep it a secret where is that ruling please?

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  2. A treat from yesterday's Mail:

    "A justice minister has quit the government over the appointment of Liz Truss as justice secretary, questioning whether her lack of experience would be 'damaging to the justice system'.
    Lord Faulkes, who served under justice secretaries Chris Grayling and Michael Gove in the last government, insisted he had nothing against the new minister 'personally'.
    But he questioned whether Ms Truss, whose previous Cabinet experience was as environment secretary, would be able to stand up in defence of judges 'without fear of damaging her career'.
    Lord Faulks, an experience barrister, was made a Tory peer in 2010 and entered Government at the Ministry of Justice in 2013, covering briefs including human rights and civil law."

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    1. And yesterday's Guardian added another perspective:

      "Lawyers have expressed concerns over Truss’s record of voting in favour of legal aid cuts, and the fact that she is the third consecutive non-lawyer to hold the post of lord chancellor. They also claim she is relatively junior, having been in the cabinet for only two years.

      On Tuesday it was confirmed that the justice minister Shailesh Vara, the last surviving solicitor in the department, had also left his post."

      !?!?? So there are no legally trained staff left in the Justice Dept!?!??

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    2. Even The Sun joined in:

      "The Sun can reveal that former Business Minister Anna Soubry refused the PM’s request to be Miss Truss’s Number Two as her minister of state in the department.

      Ms Soubry has told friends the job offer was “an insult”, as she is almost 20 years older than Ms Truss and worked as a criminal barrister for 15 years.

      Her government walk out followed Lord Faulks’ decision to resign from his post as a justice minister also because of Ms Truss’s appointment."

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  3. 8.32 must be the same idiot that published yesterday singing the praises of the current silent chairs and press officer. You must have an axe to grind. Dino would sort out NAPO officials and only those who don't know him would believe otherwise. Dino is for the members and he has my vote as well as many others. Read his statement and it is clear on his experience and commitment to members which is what we need. Results are all that matter in this climate

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    1. I agree the co chairs are silent and equally useless Chas in his own time is quite active but his socialist activism and vice chair never seemed to link and empower us. Dino is the only one that stands out he would be better than this shower of s**t that have failed on everything notice how they never state what they have achieved. Because they have achieved nothing. If you are fed up with the status quo vote Dino I know for a fact Ian useless Lawrence loathes him

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    2. Looks like Dino's campaign team have set up a rapid rebuttal unit!

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    3. I am not a campaign team just fed up with the same old useless faces in Shiver-alry Road. Ian = useless Tanya = Useless Dean = useless Yvonne = useless Chris = useless Chas = nice bloke but useless. Dino gets my vote because he is not the same old useless faces we have had for as long as I can remember

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    4. But Dino has done two stints at Chivalry Road, so perhaps your memory is rather short. The membership is 80% female, and this is better reflected by keeping the current incumbents in post.

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    5. Please don't make me laugh I'm a woman and would never vote for PATTISON or WINTERS they have achieved nothing and do not present as feminist to me. What have they done for women? 80 of members are women which means more women are being trampled on by management look at maternity leave debacle in NPS they have done nothing I am left to the weaker worse policy. There is no feminism in napo just women that do what they are told by MOJ.

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    6. 12:04 What a joke are you insane to vote for those two solely on the basis they are women and membership 80% women. How small minded and pathetic. I'm a women, an activist and NAPO is bigger than the sexist vote so wake up. Where have they been during their stint hiding and cowering in the corner. Dino is right for NAPO not because his a man because he has all the right skills. Positive descrimination is not what we need right now.

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  4. Peros Ledger and Lawrence were like Clarkson May and Hammond when they were lads together at Chivalry Road. It was all fast cars, stories of past exploits and boozy lunches. I can't recall much discussion about members. Nope not much at all ....... So people want to put a new team together Rogers Lawrence and Peros None of the candidates are up to the job so my ballot paper is going straight in the bin.

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    1. Vote anyone but Yvonne PATTISON

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    2. That cannot be true 1325 Two of the three you link are well known life tea total. The close relationship you have knowledge of is a slur good result then ballot paper binned no one would want your support.

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    3. Your wrong and that statement above is just a lie

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    4. 13:25 either you got the wrong story or you were there with them, which one was it or is lies lies and more lies.

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  5. We need a Chair with a back bone a strategy to protect members and is willing to fight management to protect our terms and conditions and integrity we need a vice chair that will support the chair as well as managing Ian Lawrance and Dean Rogers I'd love to see them 2 useless suits get their P45s

    unfortunately no one on my ballot form has these skills strengths or abilities my ballot form went in the bin this is not voter apathy this is voter dispare.

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    1. 16:10 Despair could not agree more.

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  6. I remember Dino in Chivalry Road and he did a better job at galvanising membership and keeping the GS and AGS on their toes. We need someone who can do that. Yes I'd like to see more women and black representation but after the sexism and racism debacle of napo it is a shame we only get Yvonne and Chris. Come on guys what have you achieved? f..k all.

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  7. Much of the above sounds reminiscent of Labour's wholly inappropriate meltdown - why present a legitimate leadership challenge when you can humiliate & undermine yourselves through vicious squabbling in public? PMQs today had some numbskull smug Labour backbencher feeding live ammunition to the Tories by making jibes at Corbyn. And the May Queen capitalised on every count. The Nasty Party is back with a vengeance.

    Napo members, take note.

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    1. Agreed. Fighting talk? Nope, more like incoherent drunken pub brawl slavver. Its not very pretty, folks.

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    2. Yes and clearly the in crowd of vice chairs are at odds with each other as Chas berry has come out against his own team. Why he does not say ?

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    3. Chas Berry is running to split the votes.

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  8. typical anti Dino brigade out again typical PO's believing their better then pso's and I can smell racism to not the first time napo has stunk of it is it

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  9. Ah, the racism card now! Don't make me laugh!

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    1. I don't know how 15:06 manages to construe racism out of this. I am not sure how you would describe an irrational hatred of PSOs, but to call it racism is an insult to those who actually experience and suffer racism. It matters not who is elected: this assumption is evidenced by past turnout and by the powerlessness of the unions to do anything. In the meantime, let them play politics as in the current context it's harmless and no one in paying much interest anyway.

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    2. I think napo is more sexist I have never witnessed racism ever.

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    3. Ian Lawrence is from a BME background

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    4. I for one wouldn't want a pso chairing napo. We need someone to who can cut the mustard

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    5. I have been keeping in touch via this blog since retiring just over a year ago...it now makes for horrendous reading, insult after insult........I'm done, I won't log on again which I know won't bother those doing the insults......Bobbyjoe

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    6. 21.18 What are you on about? The current Chairs are PO's but useless. If you think they cut the mustard you must like it VERY mild. The rank of the Chair is not important. What is important is the relevant experience and knowledge and for the current situation Dino has both.

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  10. white click now I have seen it all do not be so stupid.

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  11. People calm down please. Stop throwing accusations of racism and sexism and let us focus on the real issues here,
    Ian Lawrence is a suited incompetent play boy

    Dean is a smarmy useless suit.

    Yvonne and Chris are invisible.

    Chas is useless in his jeans and tshirt

    Dino is pathetic and did f all when he was cochair

    bin your forms and quit paying your dues. God I never thought I would want Jonathon Ledger or Tom Rendon back (what has happened to our napo)?

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    1. Whos Napo yours the stale old clique napo White might you mean. Selection not election class over values, grade over grade you can shove that NAPO ! This is about change not attacking activists. At least we have an election.

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  12. Sad what a sorry state of affairs I came on here to be informed and share information. This is playground silliness. the moj are watching us and this is what they see and the public. Maybe TR got rid of all the mature old skool probation officers and this is the new breed of offender managers we have. I am off this site bye. PS I think Chas is our man.

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    1. I think Chas is our best bet. He has real values and experience in organising and has many contacts. Although I wish he would come put publicly against Ian and Dean (the corporate capitalist that sold us all down the river).

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    2. How could any prospective chair candidate do that, really. I think the reformer seekers answers are in the statements. Napo must change independent review what does this mean?

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    3. get over it you dinosaur you lost you're an offender manager now make way for the fresh and new fed up of old staff who can't handle it bringing us down all the time. Same for napo where is the young new blood fed up with these old farts

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    4. Katie is young and fresh

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    5. She is like a Minnie Yvonne totally useless

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  13. Some ugly comments on this blog recently. It paints a picture of snarly, uncouth and immature Probation staff which I know is not true of the vast majority.

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    1. 19:28 where else can we vent no where napo forum was more restrictive than Erdogan's current Turkey. Can't debate at AGM as Ian and Dean have cleverly split napo and induced apathy. Also to call people snarly, uncouth and immature makes you a pot calling the kettle black.

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    2. Please do not be racist or you will be attacked for being part of the white clique in chivalry TOAD...

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  14. What is wrong with napo?

    Jonathan Ledger brought Napo into disrepute with his racist and sexist ways that cost us a pretty penny or two. Then we had tom who used napo to advance his career and be part of senior management.

    First we voted in Ian LAwrence a PCS reject ask anyone in PCS trade union and they will tell you they could not get rid of him so he got a similar package to jonathon ledger.

    Then Ian with his passion for blondes and red head females brought his equally neo liberal pro privatisation 2nd pcs reject dean rogers. Dean is on record saying privatisation can work. Guess what and we voted for him.

    Then tom resigned leaving us in the lurch and yvonne and chris whom took the poison chalice, they love the time out of the day job, none of these people care about offenders or probation values they sit comfortably in chivalry road whilst the rest of us are being destroyed by e3 or shareholders depending on what side of the bus you were flung under.

    Chas rattles his red flag on week ends but when in napo sucks up to his bosses yvonne and chris who such up to ian and dean the men who sold us out and failed. if they were a guard dog you would put them down they had one job stop TR and they failed. An honourable trade unionist would resign not these two they have redundancy.

    Keith was in charge of the treasury during this time and signed blank checks whilst chivalry road quaffed champagne in 5 star hotels and had excessive expenses that would make an MP blush.

    ANd worse of all us membership allowed this we took it we moaned and we groaned but we allowed this to happen. We need to take stock and seriously look at the mess we have. We should have a vote of no confidence in Ian and Dean we should protest vote (shame we have such a pathetic bunch to vote for) but what ever you do don't vote for the same old same old. Don't vote for
    Yvonne
    Chris
    Chas
    Keith
    Iqbal

    This sycophantic pathetic bunch sat on their thrones when hurricane TR was coming when TR hit and sit whilst the aftermath of a catastrophe continues. Dino is a narcissist but I will be voting for Dino Tina Tony these 3 are fresher and are not stained by Ian and Dean. I hope to see some members put in a motion of no confidence in ian and dean would love to see these two waste of spaces booted out into the scrap heap where they belong. For 80k a year we could get much better Ian is not worth 80p look at the treasurers accounts and expenses over the last 4-5 years. Now we know why we are in the financial mess we are in and in my area unison are doing a great job whilst Rome burns napo get excited by agm 2017 WTF.

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    1. This is by far the most accurate description of Napo I have ever read. Shame on top table and shame on us.

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  15. Wishing here membership would come out in force and vote lets show NOMS and privateers that we are active. Everyone vote Dino - Tina - Tony (sorted)

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  16. Okay what are their politics?
    We have their CVs and it is clear they have really benefited from their facility time. NVQs GFTU courses TUC courses and diplomas (what a waste of money) what next was expecting their O Level grades.

    Yvonne if you are on here what has SARN and risk matrix training got to do with Napo?

    Chas vice chair of Kent did you not assist a membership of about 11 (because that is how the branch meetings felt).

    Chris Winters states she is an activist of 25 years I must have been asleep when she was doing that maybe she was night activist.

    Dino employment law, wow how many days off did you get to attend that old nugget? 17 years in the union and only 120 case representations (the rumours must be true).

    Katie works in Leeds probably voted Hilary Benn. and arks on about "tough decisions" like what how to do nothing and sell us out?

    Keith OMG LOL PMSL 26 years of running the finances into the ground. I would trust Jagmeet Channa with my life savings and pensions then I would Keith with my kids piggy bank.

    Tina union activist since NUS oh god we are desperate to pad out our union CV are we not?

    Iqbal town planner thank fuck you have a fall back career because with the likes of you in the words of private james frazer we are doomed.

    Tony represented 100 members must have been a slow couple of decades.

    Keith again (look at the treasurers report)

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    1. I know for a fact that Dino attended the Diploma course in his own time at his own expense. 250 mile round journey - 5 hours travelling a day!

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  17. I've been apart of napo "top table". I worked and socialised with Ian. Trust me Ian is out for Ian. The sooner he is gone the better of for you all.

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  18. Oh dear, Jim, looks like the orcs have woken up. They can't spell or use grammar yet they try to assume a mantle of human reality. A sad indictment of the collective & pathetic so-called dark-arts of MoJ/NOMS & their global privateer chums.

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    1. Although the needles name calling and insults is unnecessary. Your comments about spelling and grammar are equally offensive. I really do feel for our service users; if probation staff hold such squalid opinions I am glad I am out of it all.

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    2. Yes the blog has plumbed new depths. I try to allow free speech, even harsh criticism, but the sun has clearly tipped some over the edge tonight and I've had to delete a torrent of plain abuse. Very disappointing and unedifying indeed. Comment moderation in place until the morning.

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    3. I would agree with 21 21. I have read this blog daily for almost 2 years and made allowances for predictive text causing some mis-spelling, but tonight it has got to the point where many comments are not decipherable;- wrong spelling - eg 'their' instead of 'they're'; 'apart' instead of 'a part' and much more; lack of commas,full stops and capitals, to the point where you can't tell where one sentence ends and a new one starts. If this is what goes into reports, I am embarrassed on behalf of the Service, and weeping for its demise. God knows what outsiders must think of the quality of Probation staff if they read some of this illegible squabbling.

      I feel for Jim who is desperately trying to keep this Blog together. Let us have some intelligent, literate debate. (I apologise to those bloggers who have tried to do that.)

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  19. When someone says they have represented 100 + members over a near 20 years and done the day job I think that is impressive. I had a NAPO rep support me with a grievance once and they were great, extremely glad of the support I received. I know the person well, a busy PO and someone who does extra as a Union rep. That's worth a mention I think.

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  20. I am voting Dino Tina and Tony DTT.

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  21. Vote Chas Tina and Tony. CTT

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  22. So what if it is nasty on here there is a reason for it. Membership are fed up and want to take it out on someone better via this healthy release then pent up frustration taken out in passive aggressive ways at work or worse within the family home. Let people rant and rave top table in a sense are celebrities/public figures they can and should take it especially as they are a load of crap.

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  23. Completely agree and let's not forget that they don't get paid any extra for the late nights, nights on the road, confidential meetings after work has finished or carrying the burden and responsibility. Due respect to those who commit themselves for the good of others

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  24. I won't ever vote for Yvonne Chris or Keith YCK. Almost spells yuck.

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  25. Dyslexia is a genuine condition. It effects literacy and spelling but many people with dyslexia have above average intelligence. I would welcome more dyslexics in probation. They tend to be good communicators and that more than makes up for poor spelling. Let us support our marginalised groups. People with dyslexia, adhd, autistic spectrum conditions, dyspraxia. They are over-represented in probation and need staff who undertand these conditions so that they can reach their potential. If you lack understanding then start reading up now or go on a course.

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  26. As a retired probation officer of some 20 years experience and NAPO member for my entire career I have known Dino for a very long time...I have no question as to his commitment to members interests and his tireless efforts to achieve what is in their best interests, sometimes in the face of apathy and lack of determination on their part! My personal experience of his abilities in disciplinary matters, pension issues, and the fact that he secured my voluntary retirement in the face of resistance from a less than transparent management panel all lead me to have no doubts as to his integrity, abilities, and determination. He's your man in my view!

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  27. I will not join in the bad mouthing and back biting as some have above. I am concerned about the level to which the comments on here have deteriorated. Comments, on the whole, presumably left by "professionals" who are employed by an organisation where challenging attitudes is key. I am also aware that there are statements, made in previous comments that are simply untrue.

    I will make not publish my assessment of other candidates.

    As this particular blog entry is about Dino Peros I will comment only on him.

    I am a white, female, Probation Officer. I have also undertaken a variety of other roles at differing grades. I add this simply because these areas have been raised above as relevant.

    I have voted for Dino Peros because I know him to be knowledgeable, passionate and committed. He is not afraid of taking on a fight. Nationally and locally, we have lost many fights in the last few years and if we do not pull together, we stand to lose more.

    We have lost good colleagues and the service that offenders/clients/service users, however you wish to define the people that we work with, are getting is getting worse by the day. Ultimately, victims/the public (including potential victims), although many may be unaware are not being protected as well as they deserve to be.

    We need to fight further negative change, not just to protect ourselves/our jobs and our service but to protect the public. I remain committed to this. Having read the candidates' statements and having witnessed some of them in action, it is my assessment that we would be stronger together and with Dino Peros leading us from the front.

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