After an unprecedented couple of days of activity on here with 3,638 hits yesterday, on top of 3,351 on Saturday, it's fair to say many staff are extremely concerned at the conspicuous lack of guidance, support and leadership from senior management both in NPS and the CRCs. The following is what I've distilled from this first weekend of increasing national lockdown:-
"The solution is social distancing, cancel face to face appointments, stop dragging hoards of offenders across towns for appointments and full protective gear for those that must be in a room together. Senior Probation managers and justice officials can decide this. Unions of probation can demand this."
"The NPS and CRC Senior Management Teams are not taking advice from those on the frontline. They have no viable plan or contingency to deal with this situation. Burying their heads in the sand is an easier option and hope the probation workers believe putting themselves at risk is doing their duty. Made easy while they are not the ones sitting in potentially infected prisons and supervising potentially infected probationers."
Good blog, that seems to be what mostly needs to be said now those with authority over English and welsh probation work need to comment.
ReplyDeletehopefully practicing probation workers will share their actual experiences to better inform those with managerial and political responsibility and as a way of demonstrating that at the very least others are having similar though unique experiences.
Thank you all, I feel encouraged, but I am long retired like I hope readers will eventually also be.
Good job, JB.
ReplyDeleteCourts are acting quickly now. All trials by video link or postponed so as to observe social distancing. There’s also reports of many schools refusing to open for keyworkers so as not to put teachers at risk. Probation remains silent.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/coronavirus-trials-suspended-cancelled-jury-england-wales-a9417436.html%3famp
I’m hearing Probation in London is planning a number of ‘super offices’ by merging together offices. This means large numbers of probation staff and huge numbers offenders forced to travel across London to the designated location. Open plan offices. Small reception areas. Tiny supervision rooms. No protective equipment. No social distancing. I can’t think of anything more reckless.
ReplyDeleteAnyone know more on this?
Stop this crap London is closed for essential workers travel . That does not include offenders. Open any office no one is allowed to travel there. Don't go to work and shut all this me me fear noise . Go isolate job done you all sound pathetic.
DeleteFair point - just go to TFL website & see how many stations are closed:
Delete"Station closed to help key stations remain open and allow essential journeys only"
"A 15 minute special service is operating due to operational restrictions. Public transport should only be used for essential journeys."
"A reduced service is operating on all DLR routes due to operational restrictions. Public transport should only be used for essential journeys."
"PLEASE DO NOT TRAVEL - Public transport should only be used for essential journeys"
Is London Probation really going to demand that "large numbers of probation staff and huge numbers offenders forced to travel across London to the designated location." ???
Anonymous23 March 2020 at 09:33 your comment is not helpful. London is not closed. Offenders and released prisoners can travel. Probation offices are receiving them. With probation staff and offenders mixing together this is putting all at risk. There is also no protective equipment being provided. Please try to understand the issue.
DeleteItalian medical professor based in Milan, speaking on BBC News just now, when asked how to stop the explosion of COVID19 in the UK:
Delete"Stay at home, observe social distancing. It is the only way to stop this virus."
When asked about those who are flouting the means of infection control:
"It is committing mass suicide. If we do not change our behaviour then more people will die than in the second world war."
So Probation top brass had better get their shit together & act fast...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-52003076
DeleteWriting on Twitter, Mr Brennan, Aslef's district organiser, said: "Still heavy loading on some Tube lines this morning making social distancing impossible.
"This is endangering the health of the vital workers who have to use the system."
He called on the government to act now adding: "I'm being sent pictures of crush loaded platforms at some Jubilee line platforms this morning.
Doesn't look like the tube is very empty from these pictures... maybe they're all probation staff & released prisoners rushing to a central hub?
Govt is not coping. No clarity. No integrity. No trust.
ReplyDeleteA feckless parent with no authority.
Insufficient & unsuitable PPE for NHS staff
No PPE or sanitiser for teachers
No suitable PPE for police, prisons, probation
No testing kits
There was a call for blood donors on our local tv channel today. A perfect opportunity to test some of the population?
Er, No. They say they are going to 'screen' people as to whether they are healthy enough, but that will NOT involve a test for the virus.
Does this mean a future store of virus in blood banks?
Wish I'd relocated to South Korea when I had the chance.
Just putting this here for the record. Don't want it to slip through unnoticed. In the current climate feel free to remove or relocate:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/cjji/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/02/A-joint-thematic-inspection-of-Integrated-Offender-Management-2.pdf
Overall, our findings in this 2019 inspection are disappointing. There has been scant development of IOM since 2015. In many areas, IOM has lost its way and has a much lower profile than previously... Only two out of the forty-four probation staff interviewed had received any specific IOM training, and no formal training was provided to police IOM staff... Full co-location of police, probation and support services appears to have become a thing of the past... The separation of probation under Transforming Rehabilitation, reductions in police numbers and funding cuts to most services has hindered delivery.
Fuckwittery Part 4:
ReplyDeleteTHERE was anger after final orders were called on Cumbria's pubs in a bid to stem the Coronavirus outbreak... However the new reality cut no ice with Mark Smith, a regular at the Woodrow Wilson JD Wetherspoon pub on Carlisle's Botchergate.
He said: "It's like Marshall Law, the police have been in and said they had to close, why couldn't they have left it just for tonight and we could leave at regular closing time, its only another three hours"... David Scott, landlord of the The Boardroom, Carlisle, said: "I don't know what is going to happen it has all been very vague and it has not been clearly set out, what happens to my staff and what happens to the beer, it's likely to go off."
Yes, Mr Scott. The beer is likely to go off.
https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/18324743.anger-cumbria-pubs-close-bid-end-contagion/
JACKSON, Mich. – A probation agent with the Michigan Department of Corrections office in Jackson has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), officials announced Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteThe employee has a recent history of international travel.
The case is the first MDOC employee to test positive, state officials said. MDOC is working to determine who may have been contact with person, including other employees and probationers.
The local health department ordered all Jackson County Probation Office staff to leave their work site and quarantine for the next 14 days.
“We are glad to hear our employee is feeling better,” said MDOC Director Heidi Washington. “We continue to do all we can to protect the health of our staff, their families and the offenders they supervise.”
MDOC is arranging for a way to supervise probationers in the county since the staff will be unable to perform those duties during the quarantine.
https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2020/03/17/michigan-probation-agent-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-covid-19/
_______________________
Probation and parole agents as well as parole boards must exercise their authority to limit the number of people who are incarcerated or who are forced into public spaces. Agents should cease in-person check-ins to accommodate the need for social distancing, and should allow check-ins to occur by voice or video call. Where those technologies are not accessible to a person under supervision, minimize or temporarily suspend check-in requirements. Additionally, agents should suspend enforcement of any mobility-restricting supervision conditions that impede a person’s ability to seek medical care or to support loved ones who may have COVID-19.
https://www.aclu.org/news/smart-justice/police-prosecutors-sheriffs-parole-officers-and-governors-can-help-stop-the-spread-of-covid-19-heres-how/
ACLU = American Civil Liberties Union.
Just on London...
ReplyDeletehttps://www.google.com/amp/s/www.standard.co.uk/news/london/london-coronavirus-deaths-toll-warning-packed-tubes-a4394821.html%3famp
'Getafix
The mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has called on the government to force people to stay at home to safeguard public health and limit transmission of the coronavirus.
DeleteSpeaking to Good Morning Britain on ITV, Burnham said there must be “clear arrangements for enforcement” to stop people leaving their homes apart from for essential trips.
The mayor also called on the government to use today’s press briefing to announce a new deal to protect the income of the self-employed and a commitment to house all those sleeping rough with immediate effect.
Burnham said:
We are entering a new phase of this outbreak and the government urgently needs to move to a new policy. We have had too many mixed and confusing messages. Absolute clarity is now needed.
In today’s press briefing, the government needs to announce a new stay at home policy, backing up the powerful calls from NHS staff over the weekend. This policy would allow only a very limited number of exceptions, for instance to collect shopping, and must come with clear arrangements for enforcement.
Picking up the issue of the self-employed only being eligible to receive statutory sick pay, the mayor went on to say:
You also can’t build a sense of national unity if some are having their wages covered but 5 million self-employed people are being told to live on statutory sick pay. The health secretary has said that he couldn’t live on it and nor should we expect others whose earnings have plummeted. This also needs to be corrected today.
Finally, the mayor reiterated his call for the government to house all homeless people:
No person should be forced to sleep on our streets, and there should be an immediate package announced to allow us to get people into safe and secure accommodation.
Afternoon Jim. Thank you for this blog.
ReplyDeleteVia e-mail:-
ReplyDelete"Went into office today. Colleagues sitting less than 1m from each other. Still engaging in face to face contact and multiple SU’s going in and out the building and in the waiting area. No hand gel or other PPE available. Complete lack of communication from management and no cleaning practices of doors etc. Absolutely shocking practices - numerous staff already in self isolation and no deep cleans done.
Disappointed in my colleagues as they appear to have no awareness of the danger they are putting themselves and others in - appears another case of probation officers whom are ground down already, towing the line at the expense of others."
Shocking. Probation doesn’t seem to understand “social distancing”.
DeleteSection 44 of the Employment Rights Act provides employees with the right to withdraw from and to refuse to return to a workplace that is unsafe.
ReplyDeleteAll offices should be closed for deep cleaning. Once reopened staff should return to gloves, masks, sanitizer. Designated room for only the most essential offender. Following the visit the chair, desk, door handke should be disinfected and the possible contaminated cloths disposed of separately and safely.
Seating arrangements to be as per social distancing guidelines not squeezed into a little room!
It is not rocket science! We are being instructed its 'business as usual'. FFS!!
You have to do what is safe for yourselves now, not what you are instructed by the management.
Am I not right that legislation says employees are obligated to observe Health and Safety legislation?
DeleteThat was my understanding when I was at work over ten years ago BUT Emergency Powers Legislation MAY overule Health & Safety legislation.
It maybe worth getting a lawyer's opinion, I am not confident on the issue, one way or another.
The only safe way to see offenders from behind a glass screen. Even better, don’t see them at all. Work from home and use telephone reporting.
DeleteSomebody in management here is very nervous and is spewing spreadsheets at us. "They" haave decided which clients must be seen. I have already identified perfectly justifiable arrangments to NOT see most of mine, which I have had in place for over a week now. I will refuse to change these arrangements to increase unnecessary contact. Office is filthy, interview rooms are tiny, no hand sanitser: its expected to be delivered on Wednesday so that's all right then.
ReplyDeleteWent to collect my partner's prescription meds this morning. Queued for 40 mins on the street with about a dozen others, all standing 2m apart & being let in on a one-out-one-in principle. When I got to speak to the pharmacist she told me no meds had been delivered for 2 days because there aren't enough staff at the wholesalers. They don't expect the meds to be available until "maybe next week". And they had run out of hand sanitiser for the waiting room.
ReplyDeleteDuring the drive there & back (about 20 mile round trip) I counted 78 work vans with passengers sitting alongside the driver (2 metres apart???); there were also a couple of dozen cars with more than three passengers (could be families I suppose) and a handful of hot-hatches stuffed with young males racing around the relatively empty roads.
Its apocalyptic chaos.
People overweight are now being told to self isolate.
Deletehttps://www.google.com/amp/s/www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/coronavirus-severely-obese-warned-among-21704686.amp
On Twitter POA have said expect a joint statement from them and HMPPS soon but for good reasons the details made public will be sparse.
ReplyDeleteCan't post links right now.
Just because I have not so far seen mention of statement from HMPPS re probation, does not mean there won't or will be one.
Andrew, you've clearly spent too long sitting in Priti Auntie's waiting room. You sound like you're making a ministerial statement!!
DeleteCan you let those of us not on twitter know when/what etc etc?
Thanks for the information, my dear old thing :)
"POA
Delete@POAUnion
·
2h
There will be a joint statement from HMPPS and POA coming out as soon as it can be agreed and we will continue to put out updates by circular and on social media. Sensitive details will not go on social media because that would be reckless. Steve Gillan Gen Sec"
https://twitter.com/POAUnion/status/1242077703383265281?s=20
Time of that Tweet from POA
Delete"1:16 PM · Mar 23, 2020"
https://twitter.com/POAUnion/status/1242077703383265281?s=20
NOTHING on Twitter from @napo_news since
Delete"7:30 PM · Dec 20, 2019"
I gave up following long ago - The profile reads
"NapoNews
@Napo_News
The only official Twitter account for Napo; the trade union, professional association and campaigning group for Probation and Family Court Workers
napo.org.uk Joined September 2012 207 Following 2,633 Followers"
https://twitter.com/Napo_News
The account seems almost defunct - but then again Twitter is only one possible way an organisation might communicate and there maybe a very jusifiable reason that account is not currently active.
Probably becasue they've now discovered teleconferencing. Beam Me Up, Lawro:
Delete"This was an extraordinary meeting... as it was conducted entirely remotely by teleconference."
Wonder if napo had an invitation for this teleconference with Mayor of London?
Delete"Today I’m holding a conference call with trade union leaders to discuss the ongoing response to #covid19uk and hear directly from workers’ representatives about the action they urgently require from the Government. We will get through this, and we’ll do it together."
"It is committing mass suicide if we do not change our behaviour" - Prof Giacomo Grasselli, Milan
ReplyDeleteThree weeks ago, Italy had 322 confirmed cases of the coronavirus.
Two weeks ago, Italy had 2,502 cases of the virus.
Last week Italy had 10,149 cases of the coronavirus.
At time of writing this Italy has 59,138 cases, of which 5,476 have died. That's a 9% mortality rate. 3,000 cases are in a serious or critical condition.
Meanwhile the UK has an opportunity to learn from the Italian scenario. The Italian medical teams are taking the time to speak with us & warn us. But what do we do?
We flock to the seaside, fight over toilet tissue, empty the supermarket shelves, cram onto public transport and insist its "business as usual".
We're going to have a massive shock in the next week or two - and we only have ourselves* to blame.
* ourselves = UK government, UK scientific advisors, UK fuckwits - those who had the chance to make significant decisions to reduce the risks & diminish the likelihood of a repeat performance. BUT THEY INSISTED IT WAS BUSINESS AS USUAL AND FAILED TO PROTECT US.
I have friends & family in Italy. I can barely believe what is happening there; so to see the UK blithely following the same path is almost too painful to bear.
Less than 2 hours later:
DeleteItaly is now 63,927 cases & 6,077 deaths
UK is now 5,837 cases & 335 deaths.
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries
ReplyDeleteFor the number-crunchers among you
https://crimeline.co.uk/coronavirus-covid-19-courts-and-tribunals-planning-and-preparation/
ReplyDeleteNon-urgent work, in the Magistrates’ Courts, should be adjourned for 6-8 weeks.
Urgent work that will continue to be listed include:
Custody cases (including overnight prisoners);
Bail breaches;
POCA initial applications;
Variation of curfews etc where there is urgency;
Applications to extend Custody Time Limits;
Urgent applications, including DVPOs and Search Warrants; closure order;
Sensitive/high profile cases and those involving children and vulnerable witnesses/victims.
__________________________________________
BBC's Danny Shaw says "Prisons in England/Wales have moved to “command and control” system - required to follow instructions from Prison Service HQ. Some HQ staff with operational experience are being redeployed to fill staff shortages in prisons - it’s thought well over 1000 officers are off."
I'd argue they've been a 'command & control' system for years, but it does seem that leaders are leading from the front by redeploying to the front line.