Probation Responds

For some time there's been a feeling that 'probation' was being air-brushed out of existence, a situation not helped by the conspicuous absence of a high profile champion and widespread misunderstanding of its role and purpose. The special ethos and identity of a once-proud 100 year-old public service was being deliberately subsumed by the forced marriage to the Prison Service and destined to disappear behind a wall of civil service command and control secrecy and bureaucracy. 

Despite all the agony inflicted by Chris Grayling's TR omnishambles, the utter failure of the part-privatisation, exodus of highly experienced staff, collapse of morale, increase in sickness levels and failure of recruitment and retention of staff, the serious plight of probation hardly got a mention by any political party until last Friday. But politicians of all persuasions have never really grasped what the profession is about and just want to win votes with populist messages. Now is the moment for a serious discussion instead and I note Napo have published an open letter, along with academics and others in the Times:-   

London Bridge Incident - Open letter to Amy Rees and Sonia Crozier

Dear Amy and Sonia,

London Bridge Incident

The events of last Friday were shocking and tragic, and members of the public are understandably questioning their safety and the role of the various agencies who are tasked with keeping our communities safe. This a moment when we share in the collective shock, grief and anger of a society reeling from the evidence that the world itself is not a safe place.

We accept that there will inevitably be a move to review practice in light of these events, but we urge you to approach this in the spirit of learning and developing rather than placating some of the shameful calls from certain politicians to blame and scapegoat probation staff. You will know as well as we do that since 2014 Probation has been torn apart by what is now understood to be the failed “transforming rehabilitation” experiment. Our members have worked against the odds and in the face of intolerable stress to carry on doing the best they can despite huge workloads and, in the case of some CRCs, dangerous operating models.

Our members live every day with the knowledge that they are not working in a system where they can do what they know needs to be done to rehabilitate clients and protect the public. Every day they also face the stress and pressure that this causes them. We now ask in the spirit of partnership that you respond in a supportive rather than punitive way to any perceived failings that are uncovered by this and other SFO reviews, and that you take into consideration all of the circumstances, including excessive workloads, when deciding the approach that HMPPS will take.

We have all been moved by the sentiments expressed by the family of Jack Merritt who told us all that Jack would not want to see a hasty reaction that imposed a more punitive approach to sentencing as a result of this most recent outrage. We encourage you to work with us and our members to find a more measured and thoughtful response than that offered by those who support longer sentences and more restrictive approaches.

IAN LAWRENCE General Secretary  KATIE LOMAS National Chair

--oo00oo--

Times letters: The importance of prisoner rehabilitation

Sir, The tragedy at Fishmongers’ Hall will inevitably spark discussion about prisoner reintegration. It would be heartbreaking, however, if the terrible events of Friday were used only for political posturing about ending early release, increasing sentence lengths or, especially, judging important educational initiatives such as Learning Together.

Learning Together has been one of the few true success stories in the UK’s beleaguered prisons over the past five years. Starting with a single Cambridge course at HMP Grendon, Learning Together partnerships between prisons and universities are now found in more than 35 prisons across the UK and beyond. Through its spirit of inclusion and the transformative power of education, the scheme has had an overwhelmingly positive impact on prisons and universities.

Not only were participants and alumni from these Learning Together courses the primary victims of Friday’s tragedy but Learning Together participants — including former prisoners and a serving prisoner on day release from prison — were among the “citizen heroes” who have been rightly celebrated for their bravery in confronting the attacker and performing first aid on the wounded. This truth about prisoner reintegration should not be overlooked: former prisoners can be dangerous, yes, as any of us can, but they can also become citizens, heroic ones even, when they have the opportunity. Learning Together courses recognise and promote this potential of every human being. Friday’s tragedy should in no way detract from this remarkable work.

Prof. Shadd Maruna, Queen’s University Belfast; Prof. Judith Aldridge, University of Manchester; Prof. Lorana Bartels, Australian National University; Prof. Mary Bosworth, Oxford University; Emeritus Prof Denis Bracken, University of Manitoba (CAN); Dr. Rose Broad, University of Manchester; Dr. Anna Bryson,Queen’s University Belfast; Prof. Lawrence Burke, University of Liverpool; Prof. Michele Burman, University of Glasgow; Prof. Sarah Colvin, University of Cambridge; Prof. Rachel Condry, Oxford University; Prof. Ben Crewe, Cambridge University; Dr. Pieter De Witte, K. U. Leuven University (BEL); Prof. Ioan Durnescu, University of Bucharest (ROM); Dr. Rod Earle, The Open University; Dr. Anna Eriksson, Monash University (Aust); Dr Catherine Flynn, Monash University (Aust); Prof. David Gadd, University of Manchester; Prof. Loraine Gelsthorpe, Cambridge University; Prof. Barry Goldson, University of Liverpool; Dr. Hannah Graham, University of Stirling; Dr. Kate Herrity, University of Leicester; Prof. Carolyn Hoyle, Oxford University; Dr. Susie Hulley, Cambridge University; Prof. Nicola Lacey, London School of Economics; Dr. Sarah Lageson, Rutgers University (USA); Prof. Alison Liebling, Cambridge University; Dr. Claire Lightowler, University of Strathclyde; Prof. Ian Loader, Oxford University; Prof. Nancy Loucks, OBE, Families Outside, Scotland; Prof. Lesley McAra, University of Edinburgh; Prof. Kieran McEvoy, Queen’s University Belfast; Dr. Gillian McNaull, Queen’s University Belfast; Prof. Fergus McNeill, University of Glasgow; Prof. Jody Miller, Rutgers University (USA); Dr. Alan Mobley, San Diego State University (USA); Prof. Bronwyn Naylor, RMIT University (Aust); Emeritus Prof Mike Nellis, University of Strathclyde; Prof. Tim Newburn, London School of Economics; Prof. Ian O’Donnell, University College Dublin (IRE); Dr. Brunilda Pali, K. U. Leuven University (BEL); Dr. Coretta Phillips, London School of Economics; Dr. Jake Phillips, Sheffield Hallam University; Dr. Hannah Quirk, King’s College London; Prof. Toby Seddon, University of Manchester; Prof. Sonja Snacken, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (BEL); Prof. Richard Sparks, University of Edinburgh; Prof. Cyrus Tata, University of Strathclyde; Dr. Emily Turner, University of Manchester; Dr. Pamela Ugwudike, University of Southampton; Dr. Jason Warr, De Montfort University; Dr. Beth Weaver, University of Strathclyde; Dr. Serena Wright, Royal Holloway, University of London; Dr. Geertjan Zuijdwegt, K. U. Leuven University (BEL).

Sir, Libby Purves is right (“Prisoner rehab programmes do vital work”, Dec 2). The greatest harm that a terrorist can do is to undermine our belief in the possibility of rehabilitation and redemption. The Cambridge University Learning Together team has done remarkable work at HMP Whitemoor, transforming the lives of men who had little to hope for.

We owe it to the inspiring young people who lost their lives to make sure that their work can continue.

Heather Du Quesnay
Vice-chairman, Independent Monitoring Board, HMP Whitemoor

Sir, My former colleague John Samuels, QC, is right in seeking judicial monitoring of all those convicted of terrorism or grave crimes (letter, Dec 2). I recall such monitoring in drugs cases, where the defendant and his family would attend court monthly and progress could be discussed and assessed. While probation supervision is also necessary, the sentencing judge has seen the strength of the evidence first-hand.

However, rehabilitation should not be confused with deradicalisation. Fundamentalism in all forms is long lasting — the ultra-orthodox in any religion rarely abandon their beliefs.

His Honour Barrington Black
London NW3