I've said it before and I'll say it again. Politics is as much about being lucky as anything and Gavin Williamson getting the chop was the perfect opportunity to get Rory Stewart out of a tricky situation at the MoJ.
Despite him being highly regarded in many quarters, it's certainly the view taken by the POA, together with some sceptical prison reformers. It was also the day after the Joseph McCann story broke with the MoJ admitting he may have been mistakenly released from prison. At the time of writing, although McCann has been apprehended, by any measure the circumstances look shocking and may well prove to be yet another factor in potential candidates for the ministerial vacancy proving difficult to strong-arm. This from the Independent last week:-
Rory Stewart‘s removal from his role as prisons minister has “given him a get out of jail free card” on his pledge to improve the prison system, justice campaigners have claimed. A cabinet reshuffle sparked by the firing of defence secretary Gavin Williamson over a national security leak saw Theresa May appoint Mr Stewart as secretary for international development – widely seen as a promotion.
As prisons minister, a role he served in from January 2018, he vowed to resign if he failed to reduce the levels of violence and drug use in jails selected for the 10 Prisons Project, a £10m campaign announced in August 2018 to tackle “acute” issues in 10 of the most challenging jails. Criminologists and prison officers said it marked a continuation of the “ministerial merry-go-round” at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) which was “destabilising” for the sector. Campaigners said Mr Stewart had forged a good relationship with them and made “positive” pledges, but these now risked “disappearing into a black hole”.
A MoJ spokesperson told The Independent that progress on the 10 Prisons Project would continue regardless of who replaced Mr Stewart. But campaigners worried that it would suffer the same fate as the “six reform prisons” project, which Michael Gove set up as justice secretary but was shelved after he was sacked in 2016.
Mark Fairhurst, national chairman of the Prison Officers’ Association (POA), said:
“Rory Stewart has been given a get out of jail free card.”
He added: “The pledges [Mr Stewart] made and the way he engaged with us and listened to us were positive, but the question is what happens now? This is the problem. You forge a good working relationship with these ministers, and you start to make progress, because certainly the things he’s implemented are things that we’ve been calling for years. But then all of a sudden, just as you’re moving forward, they get replaced or promoted. So then you’ve got to do the same thing with somebody different, and you can only hope that they have the same engagement with the trade unions, respect what we say and act upon what we say like he’s done. Unfortunately this new prisons minister, whoever he or she may be, will not have time to settle in because this is an emergency – we are still in crisis. Safety is a massive issue. We’re getting staff with their throats slashed and getting their heads stamped on.”
Mr Fairhurst said that while Mr Stewart was making progress, the 10 Prison Project was not on track to succeed, and that his ministerial move would allow him to “get out of jail free” on the pledges. “We all know that it will fail,” he added. “I think people in power knew what was coming and needed to protect him.”
Stirling University criminologist Dr Hannah Graham said: “The ministerial merry-go-round in justice in recent years is destabilising. It hasn’t offered probation, courts and prisons practitioners the consistent stability and support they need. At a time when painfully high numbers of people are dying on probation and in prisons, accountable and morally courageous ministerial leadership is so very needed.”
Peter Dawson, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said there would be a “good deal of regret” at the loss of Mr Stewart, but that it was “safe to assume” that his replacement would not commit to resigning if the 10 Prison Project doesn’t deliver. Indeed, the 10 may well disappear into the same black hole as the ‘six reform prisons’ that Michael Gove set up as justice secretary before moving on,” he added.
Mr Fairhurst said that while Mr Stewart was making progress, the 10 Prison Project was not on track to succeed, and that his ministerial move would allow him to “get out of jail free” on the pledges. “We all know that it will fail,” he added. “I think people in power knew what was coming and needed to protect him.”
Stirling University criminologist Dr Hannah Graham said: “The ministerial merry-go-round in justice in recent years is destabilising. It hasn’t offered probation, courts and prisons practitioners the consistent stability and support they need. At a time when painfully high numbers of people are dying on probation and in prisons, accountable and morally courageous ministerial leadership is so very needed.”
Peter Dawson, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said there would be a “good deal of regret” at the loss of Mr Stewart, but that it was “safe to assume” that his replacement would not commit to resigning if the 10 Prison Project doesn’t deliver. Indeed, the 10 may well disappear into the same black hole as the ‘six reform prisons’ that Michael Gove set up as justice secretary before moving on,” he added.
--oo00oo--
Writing on Facebook, Napo Vice Chair David Raho offers some observations:-
"This is something that could well impact on future probation either way. He is smart and gets the issues quickly and certainly realised very early on that TR1 was a huge mistake although he has persisted longer than some others of influence in the know with the idea that, despite the growing mountain of evidence questioning this, that there is a substantial role for private probation in delivering probation services than the sort of reduced involvement such as that seen in Wales. My enduring impression of him (gained from a wide variety of sources) has been of a man that at least appears willing to listen and to hear different points of view. He has also been more willing than others to look into, and appear to consider, other realistic possibilities rather than simply ploughing on regardless with the same old same old. Listening is one thing, hearing is another, doing what needs to be done is something a bit more challenging.
Let us not forget that in August 2018 he challenged us to judge him on his record over the next 12 months. This at least shows a bit of gumption. In fact, he said that he would step down if matters in prison had not improved. We should judge him on how things have been going since that offer. I am hoping his successor will come to the right conclusions about TR1 and do the right thing re: TR2.
"We live in interesting and chaotic times where it is considered considerable progress and a major concession for the unions to actually be invited to meet in the same room as ministers rather than junior staff. They are still not consistently invited to the higher level meetings where the decisions are made yet - not even Labour did this in recent times.
It is POA action that is feared by government because of public sympathy re: physical risk to PO’s and immediate public safety as they could paralyse the system and force the government into an embarrassing situation where they would be forced to bring the army in. The POA are traditionally far more militant than Napo and their actions are sometimes also used instrumentally by prison governors to achieve their aims to increase resources. The POA have much greater membership density across most of the prison estate than Napo has across probation. They do however concede that they did not resist privatisation enough when it was occurring under New Labour. By way of contrast Napo’s influence is now and historically achieved through rational and persistent argument scratching away at the underbelly of the CJS in recent times utilising modern communication skills to get the message across - sometimes it comes together well and the message gets through to change the narrative slightly. That is what has happened recently with a little help from our friends some of whom operate across the political spectrum.
Potential collective strength, though a noble and honourable aspiration, would only become a reality following a massive and unprecedented increase in union membership followed by the political transformation of staff (the majority of those working in probation are small c conservative) and radical mass epiphanic changes of attitude and motivation across probation from a general position of reluctant acceptance and apathy to solid unified rejection and activism ie unlikely but not impossible.
We will no doubt be able to judge his contribution with greater accuracy shortly. He has certainly made some of the right noises and at present his main contribution is to apparently take into consideration information from others that Graylings team for example did not. This has caused concern to private providers of probation services who believe they have been assured further contracts and for unions and reformers to dare to hope that the government will perform a dramatic u-turn. However, we are wise to be sceptical as actions do very much speak louder than words and until decisive action by government to sort out the mess follows from words then no one can have any faith in what is said.
Faith is a very relative term. I have little faith in politicians to act rationally taking into consideration relevant evidence but I’m prepared to be surprised. ‘Perhaps in probation we will know in a couple of weeks time and either give him a thumbs up for a reasonable effort or a Grayling Award for failure in public office.‘
David Raho
(Published with author's permission)
"This is something that could well impact on future probation either way. He is smart and gets the issues quickly and certainly realised very early on that TR1 was a huge mistake although he has persisted longer than some others of influence in the know with the idea that, despite the growing mountain of evidence questioning this, that there is a substantial role for private probation in delivering probation services than the sort of reduced involvement such as that seen in Wales. My enduring impression of him (gained from a wide variety of sources) has been of a man that at least appears willing to listen and to hear different points of view. He has also been more willing than others to look into, and appear to consider, other realistic possibilities rather than simply ploughing on regardless with the same old same old. Listening is one thing, hearing is another, doing what needs to be done is something a bit more challenging.
Let us not forget that in August 2018 he challenged us to judge him on his record over the next 12 months. This at least shows a bit of gumption. In fact, he said that he would step down if matters in prison had not improved. We should judge him on how things have been going since that offer. I am hoping his successor will come to the right conclusions about TR1 and do the right thing re: TR2.
How did he do?
Perhaps in probation, we will know in a couple of weeks time and either give him a thumbs up for a reasonable effort or a Grayling Award for failure in public office. It’s a key role. Let’s just remind ourselves of what it involves. Specific responsibilities include:
Prison operations, reform and industrial relations
Probation services and reform industrial relations
Sentencing (including out of court disposals)
Public protections (including Parole Board, IPPs and Serious Further Offences)
Foreign National Offenders
Extremism
Electronic Monitoring
Supporting the Secretary of State on departmental finances and transparency
Whoever is appointed has a tough brief in troubled times."
Perhaps in probation, we will know in a couple of weeks time and either give him a thumbs up for a reasonable effort or a Grayling Award for failure in public office. It’s a key role. Let’s just remind ourselves of what it involves. Specific responsibilities include:
Prison operations, reform and industrial relations
Probation services and reform industrial relations
Sentencing (including out of court disposals)
Public protections (including Parole Board, IPPs and Serious Further Offences)
Foreign National Offenders
Extremism
Electronic Monitoring
Supporting the Secretary of State on departmental finances and transparency
Whoever is appointed has a tough brief in troubled times."
David Raho goes on to say:-
"We live in interesting and chaotic times where it is considered considerable progress and a major concession for the unions to actually be invited to meet in the same room as ministers rather than junior staff. They are still not consistently invited to the higher level meetings where the decisions are made yet - not even Labour did this in recent times.
It is POA action that is feared by government because of public sympathy re: physical risk to PO’s and immediate public safety as they could paralyse the system and force the government into an embarrassing situation where they would be forced to bring the army in. The POA are traditionally far more militant than Napo and their actions are sometimes also used instrumentally by prison governors to achieve their aims to increase resources. The POA have much greater membership density across most of the prison estate than Napo has across probation. They do however concede that they did not resist privatisation enough when it was occurring under New Labour. By way of contrast Napo’s influence is now and historically achieved through rational and persistent argument scratching away at the underbelly of the CJS in recent times utilising modern communication skills to get the message across - sometimes it comes together well and the message gets through to change the narrative slightly. That is what has happened recently with a little help from our friends some of whom operate across the political spectrum.
Potential collective strength, though a noble and honourable aspiration, would only become a reality following a massive and unprecedented increase in union membership followed by the political transformation of staff (the majority of those working in probation are small c conservative) and radical mass epiphanic changes of attitude and motivation across probation from a general position of reluctant acceptance and apathy to solid unified rejection and activism ie unlikely but not impossible.
We will no doubt be able to judge his contribution with greater accuracy shortly. He has certainly made some of the right noises and at present his main contribution is to apparently take into consideration information from others that Graylings team for example did not. This has caused concern to private providers of probation services who believe they have been assured further contracts and for unions and reformers to dare to hope that the government will perform a dramatic u-turn. However, we are wise to be sceptical as actions do very much speak louder than words and until decisive action by government to sort out the mess follows from words then no one can have any faith in what is said.
Faith is a very relative term. I have little faith in politicians to act rationally taking into consideration relevant evidence but I’m prepared to be surprised. ‘Perhaps in probation we will know in a couple of weeks time and either give him a thumbs up for a reasonable effort or a Grayling Award for failure in public office.‘
David Raho
(Published with author's permission)
I think Rory Steward will be remembered as quite a competent prison minister that was willing to take on the many challanges the position demanded.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I think it's worth remembering the string of ministers and Justice Secretaries that preceeded him. It wouldn't be overly difficult to outshine most of them.
I have a feeling that he will be most missed by David Gauke. Rory has managed pretty well at keeping the focus and headlines away from Gaukes door.
'Getafix
Same old shit, different day. Not one single politician will take responsibility for the godawful mess that is the justice system post-Grayling. It wasn't perfect before, but it *was* functioning to a fair degree. Stewart seemed to be a new broom with real bristles...
ReplyDeleteOnce upon a time Young Rory was making all the right noises until he became seduced by the trail of crumbs from May's Brexit fudge. He was caught & devoured by the Westmonster & processed deep in its bowels. Having had all integrity & compassion drawn out of him he re-emerged, squeezed out like toothpaste; just another homogenous Westmonster Tory turd full of personal ambition with eyes on the prize.
And despite all of the grumbly words & finger pointing, not a single politician has suffered in any way, shape or form as a result of this catastrophe of THEIR making. Most seem to have benefitted to a significant degree.
Meanwhile hundreds of careers, livelihoods & lives have been lost.
It is a shameful disgrace.
HM chief Inspector of probation giving evidence to the Domestic Abuse Joint Committee at 11.15 this morning.
DeletePresumably CRCs having been much criticised for failings in this area will get more then a passing mention?
https://www.edp24.co.uk/features/local-politicians-better-than-national-ones-james-marston-opinion-1-6035691
DeleteDoes "taking steps to stabilise the current probation system" mean that actually we accept it is in crisis?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.gov.uk/government/news/probation-reform
'Getafix
Probation reform
DeleteWhen we get probation right, we have the ability to change lives, rebuild families, prevent victims and create better communities.
We want a probation system that does just that while protecting the public, commanding the confidence of the courts and reducing reoffending.
The probation reform programme aims to improve probation services across England and Wales. We are ending current community rehabilitation company contracts early and have sought feedback on our proposals to improve the structure and content of probation services.
Progress
In the summer 2018 we launched our Strengthening probation, building confidence consultation on the future of probation services. We received 476 written consultation responses, heard from more than 1,100 delegates at 39 engagement events and engaged with staff across England and Wales. We have analysed the responses and have been engaging with a wide range of stakeholders to test our proposals. We will publish our response to this consultation in spring 2019.
We have taken steps to stabilise the current probation system and to improve the delivery of probation services. This includes changes to our ‘through-the-gate’ services including additional investment and a guarantee that service users will see their probation officer more frequently.
We are focussed on getting future changes right. Our team is designing new and improved services so that we have the necessary resources and the right structures to deliver locally. We will also support probation as a profession. We will make sure our staff receive the training they need and are recognised as probation professionals.
Reform events
We are committed to engagement and will hold consultation events during the programme.
"When we get probation right, we have the ability to change lives, rebuild families, prevent victims and create better communities.
DeleteWe want a probation system that does just that while protecting the public, commanding the confidence of the courts and reducing reoffending."
Unfortunately we appointed Chris Grayling and he managed to get probation wrong - so very wrong that we have changed lives, but not for the better; we have devastated families, created victims & damaged communities.
Grayling's tenure at the helm of our probation services led to putting the public at risk, completely losing the confidence of the courts, raising both the reoffending rates & the numbers of recalls to prison, thereby placing a massive strain on the prison system.
But rather than admit this we are focussed on getting future changes right. Our team is designing new and improved services so that we have the necessary resources and the right structures to deliver locally. We will also support probation as a profession. We're going to spend even more taxpayer funds on jolly round-robin chats re-imagining the whole process as if Grayling was never here, pretending that we are saving the day. And you are all going to swallow it & be grateful. Hurrah for us!!
In response to probation reform were any of those responses from staff sifted into crc's who lost terms and conditions and loss of pay. We had all the consultation events prior to TR and look where that got us. The only people that are consulted are staff that are going to say yes sir no sir cos your not allowed to say anything negative
DeleteSee what happens when you say negative shit, @22:04? It undermines our message. Those who were sifted out the way were either not on the favourites' list or not on-message. Reforms require positive thinking, can-do attitudes & compliance. We've got first-class staff designing the new service, just like we had award-winning staff design & deliver TR. If it wasn't for negative-thinking by troublemakers the TR project would have run like clockwork.
Delete* Please be assured the tongue is firmly in the cheek:)
22:04 it's not negative ( well that's how management perceive anything from staff that doesn't agree with them or the shit sorry new models they introduce ) - it's being bloody honest as we knew none of this was ever going to work or end well - 23:03 I too say END very much tongue in cheek as I feel I'm living a constant nightmare every morning I wake up and realise I have to go into work and nothing has changed ,well not for the better no staff ,shit ways of working ,high complex case loads , all staff being forced to complete risk and safeguarding training because of the inspection report , unpaid work being closed down due to no staff or SU's constantly being sent home because there aren't enough staff or vans - but yet Interserve management keep cracking the target whip
Delete.’..........and a guarantee that service users will see their probation officer more frequently.’
ReplyDeleteYes, we are going to put glass walls along the side of all offices and you can look in to see your probation officer filling in forms and thumping their computer keyboard!
Yay!
Delete"We will publish our response to this consultation in spring 2019."
ReplyDeleteWhen is Spring 2019?
Spring 2019 started on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 (48 days ago) and ends on Friday, June 21st 2019 (in 45 days).
"He may have been mistakenly released from prison". Surely the OM would be alerted to this possibility on receipt of a duff PD1 and would then log in to EQuiP and consult the "Indeterminate Sentence Prisoner About To Be Released In Error" process and rectify the situation in a timely manner. Surely.
ReplyDelete