I never intended to watch last night's episode of Ch4's fly-on-the-wall documentary series Crime and Punishment because it's just so depressing, focusing as it does mostly on the state of our prisons, through the eyes of HMP Winchester. But the tivo box recorded it anyway and I felt it necessary to see it through and have all my prejudices and pre-conceptions confirmed.
I've never worked in a prison for a number of reasons, but as a probation officer mostly I've always been concerned regarding the risk of being professionally compromised by the very different culture of a uniformed service operating in a closed and secretive environment. Of course when I started out this was a recognised danger and officially enshrined in the rule that you could only do a maximum three year secondment before returning to community probation duties.
Nevertheless I took the view that being part of an external organisation working within a prison establishment was very definitely a good thing, not least so as to bring a different perspective and influence upon institutions that had little external oversight or challenge. I always felt we could be a breath of fresh air and force for good both in terms of rehabilitation and welfare. But of course probation is now completely neutered having been subsumed within HMPPS and now completely subject to civil service bureaucracy, secrecy, command and control.
In all honesty, who could watch this disaster unfolding in our prisons and happily sign up to OMiC or indeed any other NPS/MoJ/HMPPS bullshit idea supposedly to get us out of the bloody mess created by our Tory politicians and 10 years of austerity? HMP Winchester and this documentary series demonstrates beyond question how hopeless the situation has become as a direct result of culling 7,000 experienced prison officers. I would argue that prison is no longer a safe or appropriate environment for probation officers to operate in until such time as our divorce from the forced marriage called HMPPS.
We need to be independent in order to help ensure our safety and call out the disgraceful way our politicians continue to treat prisoners giving them shit clothing to wear, shit food to eat and appalling conditions in which to live. How can you expect prisoners to behave when treated with so little respect and dignity?
So my message to the Tory faithfull in Manchester, as they loudly-applaud ever-longer prison terms for more prisoners is, you are merely fuelling a fire that cannot be put out by such populist sound bite policies - which got us into this mess by the way - and the probation service wants no part of it. We demand to be split from HMPPS.
I did two stints in a prison probation environment whilst a PO - once when training (4 month placement) then again, many years later, when probation trust management decided I needed to be 'taught a lesson' & directed me to sit on the HMP naughty step for a couple of years. I was on-point for every single day of those two years, and utterly exhausted by it.
ReplyDeleteThe fundamental differences I encountered between the two experiences in different prisons (both Cat B) across two decades (80's to 00's) can be best demonstrated by (a) uniformed officer attitudes & (b) prisoner attitudes.
(a) Whilst the uniformed demographic had shifted towards being generally younger with a significant increase in female staff, i.e. moving away from the stereotypical bawling, brutish male screw, the attitudes of staff towards inmates was generally more about control and of taking things personally. The concept of 'getting even' with a prisoner was something I hadn't heard of from uniformed staff before. In the past I heard about prisoners being 'sorted out' or 'kept in line' (aka given a bit of a kicking), but never the concept that implied prisoners had the upper hand. More worryingly, 'getting even' included 'amending' records, filing negative reports that would have longer term impact - and probably worse. There was not an iota of trust anywhere.
(b) The prisoner demographic had an increased number of younger prisoners, but more particularly a greatly increased number of vulnerable people (esp. PD, mental health). Far from regarding it as a punishment - which was a fairly common view in the 80's - the more recent attitude was that whilst prison life was generally inhumane, it was more of an unwelcome inconvenience which presented a series of high risk challenges - which might mean getting shitfaced every day, selling yourself or your property to others for protection; and uniformed staff were there to be played & exploited. Again, the sense of ever-present jeopardy was always in the air.
I would like to say that after however many years as a PO, the only time I encountered what I would regard as a thoroughly professional uniformed workforce in a prison was when I worked with prisoners whose behaviours had led them to be managed within the Close Supervision Centre regime (CSC). Without exception the CSC uniformed staff were exemplary. Working with them I always felt I could trust them & that I was safe.
Unfortunately I can't see that HMPPS - or any future acronym - will let go of probation. 'The Centre' (as they modestly call themselves) have been trying to rein in the lefty-do-gooders for decades. The unholy combined efforts of Falconer/Straw/Grayling/Spurr et al have finally succeeded in disassembling a noble vocational profession & replacing it with a pile of shit. Some brave souls fight on, digging in their heels.
Have to agree, prisons and probation need to be viewed as entirely seperate and individual entities with an entirely different focus.
ReplyDeleteI stumbled on someone's theses on the changing nature of probation (2014) the other day, and it may provide an interesting read to anyone interested.
Not sure how to post a link to a pdf on a mobile, but I'm sure a link can be accessed through this,
https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/changing-probation-practice(6eab4de7-7718-4565-ad2c-72b90fed26c7).html
'Getafix
Thanks as always 'Getafix - a gem of a find but at 50,000 words it will take some effort to pick out the highlights, but to be honest I'm not sure who is reading this any more? Very few practitioners seem to be contributing and I guess we might now be coming to the end of the 'brave souls fighting on and digging their heels in'.
DeleteThe Tories couldn't give a flying f**k.
ReplyDeletehttps://www-mirror-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/huge-delivery-champagne-arrives-tory-20379615.amp?amp_js_v=a2&_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQCKAE%3D#aoh=15699650459987&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mirror.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fhuge-delivery-champagne-arrives-tory-20379615
A huge delivery of Champagne has arrived at Tory conference as MPs discussed poverty and homelessness.
DeleteDozens of bottles of Pol Roger bubbly were delivered to the Manchester Central conference centre this morning, as MPs gathered to discuss housing and social care funding.
The posh plonk, which costs as much as £46 a bottle, was seen piled high on a pallet being wheeled in to the venue.
The moment was captured shortly after the Office For National Statistics revealed a shocking 726 people died while homeless last year - a 22% increase on the year before.
Fringe events being hosted at the conference this morning included a discussion on "Working your way out of poverty"
Small business minister Kelly Tolhurst and Tory London Mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey were both expected to attend the event.
Another event, to which a senior cabinet minister was said to be invited, was to discuss "saving lives by ending rough sleeping."
Former deputy PM Damian Green and Care Minister Caroline Dineage were expected to discuss solving the social care crisis at another event. And another fringe discussion was entitled: "Could low-income voters hold the key to the next election."
It's thought the Champagne is set to be handed out to cabinet ministers, MPs and party members at a glittering party hosted by the Spectator magazine, of which Boris Johnson was formerly editor.
Are the Tories really going to be discharged from conference with only a £46 bottle of bubbly in their pockets?
ReplyDeleteI too have noticed a significant reduction in contributions to the blog. Such a shame as it has been so supportive and a platform for many.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the otinal poster prison is definitely not the place for probation. I'm certain that OMIC is going to b.c e as catastrophic as TR then watch the contributors flood back to post their 'two penneth'. Not long to wait now, apparently staff are transferring next week. The blue touch paper is just awaiting a light!