This from yesterday's mailout to members:-
BBC Radio 4 lays bare the state of the Probation ServiceThis week saw the launch of a major feature by the investigative journalist Danny Shaw. This covered the tragic events of a Serious Further Offence in Killamarsh, Derbyshire, in September 2021 and the current state of the Probation Service (England and Wales) following its reunification into public control in June 2021.
Various interviews are featured in the 31 minute Podcast entitled: ‘Probation in Peril’ . These include comments by H.M. Chief Inspector of Probation Justin Russell, Chief Probation Officer Kim Thornden Edwards, and Napo General Secretary Ian Lawrence along with some harrowing contributions from the families of the victims and a number of Probation Practitioners, whose testimonies were anonymised. We would want to express appreciation to those Napo members who agreed to take part in the programme.
Napo Survey yields startling results
Some months ago, Napo were contacted by Danny Shaw to explore whether we would be willing to launch a survey of our members working in the Probation Service to ascertain your views about the levels of staffing, the size of caseloads and whether it is felt that Probation provides a good service. As can be heard in the programme, over 900 members responded and the results make for stark listening. Some two thirds of staff surveyed said that their workplace was desperately short of staff and that 50% of respondents felt that Probation was not providing a good enough service. Napo will be publishing the full results of the survey in due course.
Chief Probation Officer agrees that TR ‘failed.’
A notable contribution also came from Kim Thornden-Edwards who, in response to a question about the Transforming Rehabilitation (TR) programme implemented by former Secretary of State for Justice Chris Grayling, called it an ‘interesting part of Probations history.’ Whilst Napo members would take issue with that description it was good to hear the Chief Probation Officer quickly confirm her agreement that ‘TR had failed.’
Napo’s conclusions
Ian Lawrence comments: ‘Much of the ground covered by Justin Russell will be all too familiar to our members facing excessive workloads, huge numbers of vacancies within their PDU’s and sickness rates which would be a lot worse were it not for the dedication of staff who often present for work when they should not. Adding that: ‘Make no mistake, this excellently produced programme is a sombre and at times traumatic reminder of what happens to public safety when Governments do not listen to the warnings that were made before the disastrous part-privatisation of the service. It seems pretty clear to me that we will need a new Government with a serious pledge to re-invest in the Probation Service before things start to change for the better.’
--oo00oo--
VLO and Interventions Updates and a request
The VLO job descriptions are now (finally) with the trade unions for consultation. All those who attended the workshops will also have a copy of the document, so please send all comments to Carole Doherty for collation in Napo’s formal response. We have also requested a copy of the job description questionnaire but have not yet had a response.
Programmes
The employer unfortunately issued a communication earlier today to all programmes staff, to which Napo immediately objected as it did not accurately reflect the position of the trade unions. Management have subsequently apologised for this error and have now reissued the communication. To be clear, all three trade unions do not agree with the proposed removal of the DSOUs teams (and not just the future direction of programmes to men convicted of sexual offences). Management also identify their intention to operate with just one facilitator job description. This is of course a disappointing result, though we are still arguing the case that more training is needed to equip facilitators with the skill and training needed to work with people convicted of domestic and sexual abuse and learning disabilities and with neuro diversity, and that people should be properly rewarded for it.
Since the last JES workshop we have had 3 all day meetings with the employer which sadly, hasn’t yielded much movement, though it is good to report that the training team has made some adjustments in relation to their proposed training package for new employees, though we are still questioning the robustness of it. The material for the job descriptions has been collated and is with the trade unions for comment, and there is due to be a further joint workshop later this month to discuss the job description questionnaire, prior to it going to the JES panel and we would hope it would be evaluated at Band 4.
Could we ask if anyone has an electronic copy of the previous community programme ‘The Thames Valley Groupwork Programme’ (management manual) and any job descriptions where it describes the role of the facilitators delivering programmes for men convicted of sexual offences. Together with any documentation which highlights the consultancy and/or the training element of their roles, could they send to Carole please.
The Next Generation Programme will be discussed at a meeting later this month, and some workshops are being set up to discuss in more detail with facilitators, TMs and PMs . Due to the strong concerns raised by Napo and the other trade unions, communications have gone out clearly stating that the Next Gen programmes will be separated into offence types and with further separate groups for people with neurodiversity and others for those with intellectual disability.
UPW
We have been made aware of some issues in restricted accommodation in some PDU’s for our Unpaid Work Colleagues, please share details with Carole if this is happening to you. As you will be aware, there are ongoing issues with the pay and Unsocial Hours Payments and, as previously reported, all three unions have registered a National Dispute with the employer in relation to this.
DASOS
It is really good to hear from members that the DASO away day was a really positive experience, and the confidence that the rewriting of the manual will be a truly collaborative exercise.
VLO and Interventions Updates and a request
The VLO job descriptions are now (finally) with the trade unions for consultation. All those who attended the workshops will also have a copy of the document, so please send all comments to Carole Doherty for collation in Napo’s formal response. We have also requested a copy of the job description questionnaire but have not yet had a response.
Programmes
The employer unfortunately issued a communication earlier today to all programmes staff, to which Napo immediately objected as it did not accurately reflect the position of the trade unions. Management have subsequently apologised for this error and have now reissued the communication. To be clear, all three trade unions do not agree with the proposed removal of the DSOUs teams (and not just the future direction of programmes to men convicted of sexual offences). Management also identify their intention to operate with just one facilitator job description. This is of course a disappointing result, though we are still arguing the case that more training is needed to equip facilitators with the skill and training needed to work with people convicted of domestic and sexual abuse and learning disabilities and with neuro diversity, and that people should be properly rewarded for it.
Since the last JES workshop we have had 3 all day meetings with the employer which sadly, hasn’t yielded much movement, though it is good to report that the training team has made some adjustments in relation to their proposed training package for new employees, though we are still questioning the robustness of it. The material for the job descriptions has been collated and is with the trade unions for comment, and there is due to be a further joint workshop later this month to discuss the job description questionnaire, prior to it going to the JES panel and we would hope it would be evaluated at Band 4.
Could we ask if anyone has an electronic copy of the previous community programme ‘The Thames Valley Groupwork Programme’ (management manual) and any job descriptions where it describes the role of the facilitators delivering programmes for men convicted of sexual offences. Together with any documentation which highlights the consultancy and/or the training element of their roles, could they send to Carole please.
The Next Generation Programme will be discussed at a meeting later this month, and some workshops are being set up to discuss in more detail with facilitators, TMs and PMs . Due to the strong concerns raised by Napo and the other trade unions, communications have gone out clearly stating that the Next Gen programmes will be separated into offence types and with further separate groups for people with neurodiversity and others for those with intellectual disability.
UPW
We have been made aware of some issues in restricted accommodation in some PDU’s for our Unpaid Work Colleagues, please share details with Carole if this is happening to you. As you will be aware, there are ongoing issues with the pay and Unsocial Hours Payments and, as previously reported, all three unions have registered a National Dispute with the employer in relation to this.
DASOS
It is really good to hear from members that the DASO away day was a really positive experience, and the confidence that the rewriting of the manual will be a truly collaborative exercise.
Delivery of programmes at band 4 ok why not but Napo only hopes for an outcome not sure what their work is worth then. Vlos still shafted and that was done by Napo. As for the commentary by the general secretary remedial.
ReplyDeleteJB your blog goes up like a rocket on issues around pay conditions and treatment. It lulls around contributors experiences guest stuff drops off on reforms here and there but still very much the go to place for update mood and direction of travel. Keep it up outshines twatter and let's them know there is real dissent in staffing not reflected by Napo shamefully.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started in a small city we had not imagined this
ReplyDeleteNext Gen programmes will be separated into offence types and with further separate groups for people with neurodiversity and others for those with intellectual disability.
Although a certain structure existed for groups our caseloads were generally generic a word not used much now but we did a great a job.
Carole Doherty is an excellent activist in the spirit of what Napo used to stand for. She needs support from this blog.
ReplyDeleteNo point in standing up that. Unions represent terms and conditions pay working practices. Napo under rendon pattison and the other 3 can't recall their names were all completely useless. They gave away Napo silver in lost direction. Lost the conditions of service the only thing that contractual agreements hold employers to account. Lawrence is still in role so Doherty no matter intentions is not going to be able or have what's required to bring any changes. Napos last journey is under the current fool going nowhere fast.
DeleteThere are many excellent old style activists been stifled by Napo leadership. They all need a salute too .
DeleteDear Dominic, here are some interesting thoughts for Easter from an article I stumbled across this weekend:
ReplyDelete"A lot of angry men have what I call a core sense of inferiority. They feel like they don’t measure up. And then there is an idea that a Dr. [Michael] Kimmel has put out there in some of his book which he calls “aggrieved entitlement.”... a lot of men, especially white men, feel like other people are getting stuff that I’m entitled to and I’m not getting it."
"I think over the last 10 or 15 years or so a lot of aspects of our culture have gotten increasingly aggressive... I think that society sets the parameters. So parents, teachers, coaches, other authorities set the bar for what is acceptable and what isn’t."
https://www.fatherly.com/life/anger-management-expert-why-men
So maybe you could reflect on your behaviours, your anger & bullying, and start to model what is acceptable behaviour..
Thank you. Enjoy your chocolate eggs.
Seen on Twitter:-
ReplyDelete"Most of us came into probation to help those in need, whether that be the people we supervise, the victims and the public. Somewhere along the line this has become lost. No doubt we are now a restrictive public protection agency and rehabilitation has sadly been forgotten.
If we rehabilitate, encourage empathy and meet need, we protect the public. But we do so little rehabilitative work, there is more emphasis on recording, ticking boxes and admin. The culture in #probation needs to change now."
That's exactly it from Twitter.
DeleteChange the model, change the ethos of the service and not only do you take a step towards regaining probations gold standard and independence from the prison service, but you will also start attracting the right people for the job.
Theres an old saying,
"same shit, different flies."
Leave the model and ethos as it is and it doesn't matter where you recruit from because everything has become a repetitive pattern of process. Its factory work, put the products on the conveyor belt, reject a few along the way, and those that do reach the the end of the line are distributed around the country, hopefully not to do too much damage to the general public.
Probation has become a con. It cons recruits making them think they will be able to make a difference to peoples lives and the communities they live in.
It cons the public by making them think probation is about rehabilitating the people they work with.
It cons those who walk through probations doors by making them believe theres some help and opportunity available.
If probation isn't about rehabilitation and trying to give those in its charge a stake in the communities they are returning to, and it's not staffed by people who have autonomy in their own decision making and allowed to pursue and develop their own links and relationships with external agencies within the communities they work in, then the factory doors may as well close, and hand the keys over to G4s or Serco and security guard wages.
'Getafix
There was an article in the Telegraph on Saturday rating the worst degrees in UK based upon salary expectations - sad to say that criminology was right up (down) there with the also-rans. The article did not say why this was but I cannot help but think its because one of the few uses for a degree in criminology is with the probation service and our wages are dreadful on any comparative basis. Also have you been following the dog whistles from Jacob Rees Mogg about surrendering our current pension scheme in exchange for higher wages - this is a huge transfer of risk onto the the shoulders of the worker. Much more awareness of this is required in this crucial area of our meagre remuneration package. I think we will be destined to lose it before long especially if we given into the siren song of higher wages in the short term with our much younger demographic profile.
ReplyDeleteDevolution of role to a lower pay reflects the nature of the new job. No professional assesments no psr writing no court work . If course there is no po role left all of it should be band 3 see how all staff get on with that crap and unreasonable grading .
Deletehttps://rozenberg.substack.com/p/raab-acted-unlawfully-court-confirms
ReplyDeleteDominic Raab acted unlawfully when he made a Parole Board rule that stopped prison and probation staff from recommending that a prisoner was suitable for release or transfer to open conditions, the High Court confirmed last week.
Victims’ Commissioner London on twitter
ReplyDelete@LDNVictimsComm
"Might the Justice Secretary now face contempt of court proceedings for acting unlawfully? I strongly urge Govt to check its unscrutinised parole board reforms within the Victims and Prisoners Bill swiftly. We cannot allow #victimsbill to be delayed or jeopardised."
Angry bully Raab & his petulant homemade rules might just unravel a whole series of threads within the justice system, including yet another minister with a conviction in office
The Guardian online says, “…….In a written judgment, published just before the Easter weekend, Macur and Chamberlain wrote: “We concluded in our first judgment that guidance issued under the authority of the secretary of state instructed HMPPS [His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service] witnesses to refuse to comply with the board’s directions and to refuse to answer its oral questions in circumstances where the refusal could amount to a breach of the witness’s legal obligation.
ReplyDelete“The consequence of the conclusions we have reached in this judgment is that a refusal to answer an oral question could also amount to a contempt of court, provided that the question was relevant and necessary, the witness had a view to give, and the witness could not assert a legally recognised privilege against answering … If such a contempt were committed, the person giving the instruction not to comply or not to answer could also be guilty of contempt of court.”
Presumably the excellent leaders who endorsed his instructions and enforced them in relation to probation staff are equally guilty of contempt. I wonder if the contempt they have is as severe as the contempt I feel for them?
and now starmer's blue patrol are trying to use tory tactics against the tories, but without the expertise required:
ReplyDeleteSecret Barrister: "Very concerning to hear @SteveReedMP
now asserting that the figure of 4,500 who “avoided prison” includes child *rapists* - Labour’s advert refers to sexual assault, which, as he knows, is different"
Totally aside, and I apologise for that. My 14 year old Palestinian cousin was shot dead and his 12 year old sister wounded in the hip by a live round fired by Israeli forces. I truly grieve for the British israel females killed but who grieves with me. Why are Palestinian deaths brushed aside. I am British, 3rd generation , with over 12 years as a gp and my partner an ex probation officer who left 6 years after qualifying in 2001 . Why does the them vs us dominate British society ???
ReplyDeleteIt’s a similar story in Yemen, Sudan and conflicts elsewhere. Meanwhile those from Ukraine are given safe routes to the UK, hosted by families and given jobs. It’s a really bad double standard when all need help equally.
DeleteIts what makes us british - division, arrogance, knowing one's place, xenophobia in its literal sense, i.e. a fear of others who are different, a fear so strong that we despise & demonise rather than embrace & welcome.
DeleteI re-watched Lean's 'Lawrence of Arabia' this weekend. It is worth a watch in 2023.
Mr Angry will be furious about the courts willingness to uphold the law. I mean what sort of world do we live in when the Justice Minister can’t be allowed to knee jerk whenever he pleases.
ReplyDeleteI was watching a skip being delivered at the weekend and was transported back to an incident in my local office. The CRC were busily transferring all the files and putting the retaining folder into skips at the back of the office. By this time one was nearly full and I didn’t have the heart to tell them that they had left all the name tags on. On leaving the office they were back in the skip removing all the folders.
ReplyDeleteActually if you had told them you probably would have save them a lot of hassle. What a thoughtful colleague you are. At least we know the NPS CRC divide is still alive and kicking.
DeleteLike I said the skip was full by the time I noticed it so it wouldn’t have saved anytime at all really. Of course I could have said something but by then the new CRC staff were bragging about how the private sector would change things forever. I suspect not in the way they had originally envisioned.
DeleteMy PDU has no staff left. They are dropping like flies, getting other jobs, going off sick. Everyone is at 150% on the WMT and rising. My PDU was inspected as inadequate before Xmas. Amongst the recommendations was that our excellent leaders were more visible, issued clear instructions as to what should be prioritised given the staffing situation then (which is worse now) and that efforts were made with regard to recruitment and retention. 5 months later - none of these things have happened. How can they just get away with this?
ReplyDeleteIt’s called lies. They’re good at that. It’s how incompetents and idiots become ‘leaders’ in the first place.
DeleteWe’re told as civil servants that our first duty is to the Minister, yet he instructed us to act in a way that leaves us as practitioners liable for contempt of court. GET US OUT OF THE CIVIL SERVICE.
ReplyDeleteIt’s no worse than working in inadequate, understaffed, toxic and discriminatory probation offices. We do that without Raab instructing us to act!
DeleteWe have policies to deal with discrimination and actually a duty to expose this! Trouble is people are not using grievance or other policies and putting up with it, as you suggest in your post. Perhaps if we took the managers on in their own game we might get better treatment and yes I know how difficult it is but not rocking the boat and just ending up feeling like crap doesn’t get us anywhere either.
DeleteI would argue that a Civil Servants first duty is to follow the Civil Service code:
Deleteintegrity’ is putting the obligations of public service above your own personal interests
‘honesty’ is being truthful and open
‘objectivity’ is basing your advice and decisions on rigorous analysis of the evidence
‘impartiality’ is acting solely according to the merits of the case and serving equally well governments of different political persuasions
I would argue the TR and subsequent decisions fail to meet these standards. In fact if a greater emphasis had been placed on evidence then none of these changes would have happened.
It is abundantly clear that senior leaders in the Ministry of Justice have failed, and continue to fail, to meet the expectation of this code.
What policies are there and what discrimination exactly are you meaning. I know there's a lot of talk on here but discrimination to who for what. Overworking is not discriminatory just in case this is the thinking.
DeletePerhaps it does fall short of discrimination but it is exploitative. Staff are paid for a fixed period of time. Anything over those hours is either paid for or time off is allowed at a later point. Staff appear to be saying that they don’t have enough time to take the added hours back. In these cases my advice has always been to keep a track of your hours, stop when you have completed those hours and then go home. Our society, along with many others, places considerable emphasis on hard work. To the extent that we feel obligated to work hard and work beyond what we are paid for in wages. As long as this continues you are being exploited. Forget about it being a vocation, that rubbish ended years ago. It’s just a job. So prioritise your work, keep a track of your activities, keep a track of your hours and tell your manager you will be off on the dot. Stick to your hours, do not work over the weekends and if you are placed under pressure ask your manager to outline how you can use your time any better. 37.5 hours per week…
DeleteOk good post agree with most of it. So no discrimination misleading everything. It is working contracted hours instead. The outline is great and if staff did this on mass it would be a protective action. The management could not likely call it collective action as staff do contracted hours. Don't it make you wonder why those over at Napo has not advised staff how to work their time. Staff will always plug on to their own detriment sheep.
Delete
DeleteThere are numerous reports online about active and historic discrimination within the probation service. If you mean discriminatory staffing policies then look at the HMIP reports. If workers are doing double the work which is affecting their health, causing part time workers to work full time, taking workers away from parental commitment, impacting on other protected characteristics and causing unfair working practices then this is discrimination. Here’s an example.
An inspection of probation services in: Barking, Dagenham and Havering PDU The Probation Service – London region
At the time of fieldwork in September 2022, the PDU was experiencing staffing pressures and operating at 64 per cent staffing capacity, with vacancies and absences across probation practitioner grades.
While we did hear that PDU leaders and managers are visible and approachable issues relating to diversity were of concern and the leadership team need to address these immediately, to ensure a fully inclusive environment for all staff.
https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/11/Barking-Dagenham-Havering-PDU-report.pdf
An inspection of probation services in: Hammersmith, Fulham, Kensington, Chelsea, and Westminster PDU The Probation Service – London region
Almost all staff felt their workloads were unmanageable which was not surprising given that HFKCW had an overall vacancy rate of 43 per cent. The strategy implemented to try and manage this was complex. This created a sense of anxiety and confusion among staff who, despite best efforts, were struggling to identify what was a priority, and what was not, at any given time. As well as the high staff vacancy rates, high levels of staff sickness were also contributing to the problem and staff retention is a huge issue, with a third of staff having left this PDU in the 12 months prior to the announcement of this inspection..
Whilst the current PDU leaders have made efforts to rectify the dire situation they find themselves in, the reality is that they are unable to do so by themselves and require significant and enhanced support and oversight from national senior leadership teams if they are to make any real progress. Staff and managers across HFKCW will be extremely disappointed with the outcome of this inspection, but we would be doing them a disservice if we did not report openly and honestly about the severity of the situation they are working in.
https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/10/An-inspection-of-probation-services-in-Hammersmith-Fulham-Kensington-Chelsea-and-Westminster-PDU.pdf
I wonder how much of this breaches the European convention on human rights.
DeleteThe Convention guarantees specific rights and freedoms and prohibits unfair and harmful practices.
The Convention secures:
the right to life (Article 2)
freedom from torture (Article 3)
freedom from slavery (Article 4)
the right to liberty (Article 5)
the right to a fair trial (Article 6)
the right not to be punished for something that wasn’t against the law at the time (Article 7)
the right to respect for family and private life (Article 8)
freedom of thought, conscience and religion (Article 9)
freedom of expression (Article 10)
That is not a discrimination issue. Incidentally mentioning the protected characteristics does not make working and excess an intentional or not a discrimination activity. The only slight was an inclusive workplace but unless the pdu were experiencing some known local issue there is nothing in this that makes any discriminatory matter reportable challenge worthy or have any hope of illustrating any breach. It is less widely understood policies don't work in favour of non minority staffing outside the protected noted.
DeleteProbation service must ‘reset and raise’ standard of work with ethnic minority service users and staff urgently
Deletehttps://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/media/press-releases/2021/03/raceequalityinprobation/
You do not work in a probation office if you think there’s no discriminatory and unequal practices in how work is allocated, how staff are supported, in what staff are asked to do, how promotions are handed out, on and on.
DeleteJust because you don't like something does not make it a discrimination issue. I think we agree over working is a staff member choice as they continue to deliver naively. The selections of promoted few for low talent is reflection of the those doing the appointments. They like managers to collude not rock boats. I have extensive experience of working in an office and know all the rat hole excuses for what your refering but it won't make a case in the way you describe . Probation has changed so unrecognisably now getting back to fair practices joint team responsibilities paired cover and required behavioural standards have all left. That went when the incredible low skill low renters of the crcs walked in and threw out all values. I won't name them here but the least able people you could ever suffer in charge. Their like are now in control.
Delete… yes discrimination
Deletehttps://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/media/press-releases/2021/03/raceequalityinprobation
Sympathising with 10:23 and concerns about being persistently far above the recommended workload management tool - South Wales Probation Managers have been clear in the past explaining that every single task without exception should be prioritised! Needless to say this advice from our "excellent leaders" was not well received by worn out and exhausted Probation front line staff
ReplyDeleteI think the boss in s Wales was never a real po but an an assisted career candidate supported into senior authority. There will not be a lot going on to protect staff .
Deletehttps://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/inmate-makes-heart-gesture-scrawls-26685258
ReplyDeleteUnrealistic twaddle that is often left unchallenged in probation reports, Part 342 of an infinite series of examples:
ReplyDeleteOffence: almost three times over the alcohol limit when he crashed his Land Rover through a shop doorway.
"A probation report said the married father-of-three had been drinking with a friend after playing golf. He thought he had drunk between "five and 10 pints" and rated his intoxication as eight or nine out of 10.
The probation report stated he had intended to get a taxi home, did not know why he drove and could not remember the smash "either due to the trauma of the crash or his level of intoxication". "
Wonder how many readers could honestly say they didn't know if they'd had five, or ten, pints?
Or thought it was perfectly ok to drive home in their brand new 2.5 tonne landrover?
Outcome:
* Banned from driving for two years. If he completes a driver rehabilitation course he will have his driving ban reduced by three months.
* 12-month community order in which he must carry out 180 hours unpaid work
* 90-day alcohol ban, monitored by a tag.
In other court news:
"Activists jailed for seven weeks having defied a judge’s ban on telling the jury that they were protesting to bring awareness of climate change and fuel poverty. Insulate Britain members have been found guilty of ignoring a judge's ban... Silas Reid had forbidden the defendants from citing the climate crisis or fuel poverty as the reasons for their actions, telling them it was for “history to judge, not the jury”."
UK justice at its finest - drive a 2.5 tonne weapon into a shop window whilst incapable & you get a booze tag; explain why you were at a public demonstration & you get jailed.
So much for assessing risk & protecting the public.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-care-and-management-of-individuals-who-are-transgender
ReplyDeleteThoughts?
Who would have thought.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/23460721.private-probation-service-boss-admits-26-966-fraud/
An ex-charity trustee has admitted committing fraud while he was heading up a privatised probation organisation.
DeleteHugh Richard Vaughan Morgan Williams took £26,966 the from Durham and Tees Valley Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) while he was chairman.
Charges relating to his time as a trustee of Cowesby Charity, which helps people in and around Cowesby near Thirsk, are set to be dropped by the prosecution, Teesside Crown Court heard.
The 70-year-old, of North Riding Rise, Thornton -le-Moor, near Thirsk, pleaded guilty to fraud between January 1, 2015, and February 1, 2016, relating to his time at the CRC, during a brief hearing.
Richard Herrman, prosecuting, said the Crown Prosecution Service would offer no evidence in relation to the other charges the defendant was facing.
He was charged with fraud by abuse of position at charity between April 1, 2012 to January 31, 2015, but that count will no longer go ahead.
Separate false accounting charges, relating to accounts for the charity he allegedly submitted to the Charities Commission and to a local clergyman between March 2012 and May 2016, will also be dropped, the court heard.
Morgan Williams was released on unconditional bail until his sentencing hearing.
Judge Timothy Stead said: “I have adjourned the case until June 6. I can’t give you any indication of what you sentence you will get.”
So four years' worth of offences by a serial fraudster, effectively stealing from smaller charities helping those in & around the locale are dropped. Why?
Meantime, stealing from the CRC (an organisation which was draining the public purse on a false premiss) is a more serious matter?
Protecting the public. Risk assessment. Bullshit.
They're simply punishing a man who was caught for embarrassing them.
Now he's been defenestrated & sent to the stocks, perhaps Mr Williams could blow a very public whistle on the shenanigans inside a CRC?
Yes we would. I know from working links they tried to hide money all over the place but the Germans Aurelius sent their own representative to all senior management meetings to track the money so they could extract more of the debts that working links borrowed . By crikey corruption took on a new tangent with the incompetant Mr Jones . He is really nasty and low brainer. The catalogue of fiddles deceits lies and just majority bullshit saw no ending as long as they held authority. The contract managers were out of their depth being ex po staff with little accounting awareness apart from groceries. Working links showed them to have non jobs and pathetic. No one came out of that scrum looking just ok. Rotten to the core aided by probations morons
DeleteOoooh a bit harsh . The point of contract managers is illustrated by the reported deception from a CRC funds not being noticed or understood. Clearly fraud going undetected when contract managers were there to monitor the money clearly proves the incompetence of those post holders. The question where are they now and what further damage are they doing.
Deletearea directors - & the damage is clear for all to see
DeleteI recall the original document which landed (heavily) on my desk. It was written in response to a mess created by the prison service which was managed by: a) writing a long and convoluted document for a prisoner group that remains extremely small. The purpose being to show how seriously the HMPPS take things when they get a roasting in the media; b) as it was a prison mess the probation service were the obvious choice to step up and do most of the work.
ReplyDeleteIt remains long and dreary. Used infrequently, if ever in some courts, staff will scrabble around when they need it and most of it will finish up not being done as required. I note yet another form that requires manual completion. I mean really has this still not been sorted out? Do you still have to copy and paste? That’s just an aside really but it does matter. So in conclusion, it’s far too long for a document that will need to be dusted down when it’s required. Shorter and clearer would be better. But when a back needs covering those words stand up for justice. In my view this could have been managed by an heads up email to the prison post sentence, pre delivery and managed from then on by the good offices of the prison service. Off the top of my head there are about 120-150 trans prisoners at any one time. A very small proportion of our astonishingly high rate of custodial cases. This could easily be managed on a case by case basis and perhaps don’t put sexually risky transitioning/transitioned women who have previously committed sex/violence against women in a fucking women’s prison you morons….and that’s it really.
VERY VERY IMPORTANT - PLEASE MAKE PEOPLE AWARE
ReplyDeleteOn Sunday 23 April at 3pm the government will be sending a UK-wide Emergency Alerts test message to all compatible devices.
If you are a survivor of domestic abuse with a secret or secondary phone or tablet, please be aware the Emergency Alert will play a sound even if your device is on silent.
To turn Emergency Alerts off, charity Refuge have created this short video to show you how:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2MBcHwmiy8
6pm on 20 April 2023 & Raab thinks he's home & dry...
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile Dave Penman (FDA gen sec) makes very valid observations:
ReplyDelete"Can you imagine being a civil servant who has raised a complaint, sitting in the department that Dominic Raab is the Secretary of State for, watching TV to find out your fate? This whole process is a farce. We need serious reform of the way ministerial bullying is dealt with."
If raab stays then we must surely see an exodus of staff?
No because they need their jobs and have bills to pay.
DeleteTwo-faced Penman was a lot more forgiving of bullying when it came to Antonia Romeo:
Delete"Dave Penman, whose union represents senior civil servants, told The Times that Romeo had been targeted because she was a "female candidate with a profile" and an “outgoing, dynamic” personality."
“If you are the trade ambassador for the east coast of the United States, then it’s creative industries, it’s fashion, that’s what it’s all about,” he told The Times. “That’s the sort of person you want rather than someone who’s going to be sitting in their apartment seven nights a week."
...junior staff working under Romeo had felt pressured to submit questionable expenses on her behalf, including private school fees for her children in New York and a last-minute flight to attend the Bafta awards.
Penman added: “When you become a manager, when you make decisions, people don’t like you and they complain. There probably isn’t a permanent secretary who doesn’t have at some point complaints that are made against them.”
https://www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/article/misogyny-behind-romeo-criticism-union-chief-says
Don't they seem to be almost the same words being used to defend raab in recent times...?
Nothing will be announced today folks...
ReplyDeletehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65336405
The BBC has been told Mr Raab has seen the full report but has not spoken to the prime minister.
"Those representing the complainants, many of whom still work in the Ministry of Justice with Mr Raab, are livid that they have been kept waiting."
Bastards. And the torture never stops... the art of bullying is in their DNA; EVERYONE has to pay a price when they're under the microscope.
I'd love to be wrong but this overnight pause leads me to believe raab will be exonerated. No resignation. Uber bully Romeo will be pleased - she's been supporting him 100%.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8537319/Woman-tipped-No10-job-bullying-row-Claims-diplomat-loved-mix-stars.html
"...in 2017 she was investigated over a flood of allegations that she had 'terrorised' staff who criticised her extravagant lifestyle and reportedly lavish spending..."
And what happened?
"Mrs Romeo was subsequently cleared by the Cabinet Office and promoted a few weeks later. However, critics have branded the inquiry a whitewash."
I heard Lawrence of Napo on the radio this week. What a lot of tripe he talks says nothing. I guess he would represent the likes of raab than his members. What I heard was talking blaming systemic problems. This is bullshit Lawrence focus on attacking the incompetant management than amieletary words that ignore the people damaging us. Moron.
DeleteSimilar to the probation service. Those at the top get away with bullying.
DeleteIs this a watershed over Raab can we have faith that our internal bullying culture could be addressed. If we complain will we be protected .
ReplyDeleteAmused by Dominic Raab's resignation letter. If you are looking for a template for the expression of "sorry, not sorry" you could not find a more perfect example
ReplyDelete… brace yourself for more changes!
ReplyDeleteIn May 2021, it was reported by The Times that Chalk had told prison officials that they "must stop calling inmates residents, clients or supervised individuals because it creates the wrong impression of criminals". Chalk reportedly told civil servants, prison staff, governors and probation officers that they should stick to using the word prisoner as the increasing use of alternative language to refer to and address prisoners was "sending mixed messages about how the state and wider society perceived serious criminals". Speaking to The Times, a source close to Chalk said "This kind of language does nobody any favours. People in prison are there because they have committed serious crimes and need to be locked up to protect the public. We should be speaking plainly and not pretending that these people are angels residing in a cell out of choice.”
This is what happens when you don’t have a supine workforce
ReplyDeleteRoyal Mail has agreed to a pay deal with the postal workers’ union to end a long-running and bitter dispute that led to the first national strikes since its privatisation a decade ago.
The company and the Communication Workers Union, which represents about 115,000 postal workers, said they had reached a deal, following 18 strike dates last year including in the run-up to Christmas. They reached an agreement in principle last weekend after 11 months of negotiations in the dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.
Bullies never take responsibility, that's why they bully- they just justify their behaviour and blame the victim for being over-sensitive or malicious. Most services are poor at managing this sort of behaviour. Maybe if all staff had compulsory training with an outside organisation it would help to make it clear to staff where to draw the line and what to do if you are the victim. When it happened to me it wasn't taken seriously and the bully just got a mild rap on the knuckles, it's pathetic. The situation with DR won't make the slightest bit of difference. Only change within each organisation can make a difference, that and stopping ineffectual lip service.
ReplyDeleteReacting to the news of Dominic Raab’s resignation Pia Sinha, Chief Executive of the Prison Reform Trust, said:
ReplyDelete“The vital and complex work of the Ministry of Justice has been undermined by Dominic Raab’s reckless meddling and his inability to interact professionally with his senior officials. A new justice secretary is an opportunity for a reset on Dominic Raab’s damaging changes to the parole system. Changes to open conditions transfers have undermined the progression of prisoners and effective arrangements for public protection. A single view procedure forbidding state appointed officials including forensic psychologists and prison and probation staff from making recommendations for release or transfer to the Parole Board have been ruled unlawful by the High Court. The victims and prisoners bill currently before Parliament undermines the independence and expertise of the parole board and raises wider constitutional concerns regarding judicial independence and U.K. compliance with human rights obligations.
“His successor should urgently review the bill and Raab’s other changes to the parole system as a result and adopt a more measured approach.”
The inquiry by senior lawyer Adam Tolley KC looked at eight formal complaints about Mr Raab's behaviour during his previous stints as justice secretary, foreign secretary and Brexit secretary.
ReplyDeleteHis report concluded Mr Raab's conduct involved "an abuse or misuse of power", and that he "acted in a manner which was intimidating" and "persistently aggressive" towards officials.
Mr Raab told the BBC he was sorry if he upset anyone but "that's not bullying".
He said there was a risk "a very small minority" of officials "with a passive aggressive culture" were trying to block reforms they did not like... a "very small minority of very activist civil servants" were effectively trying to block reforms they did not like, related to areas including Brexit, prisoner parole and human rights.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65349192
Dear Prime Minister,
I am writing to resign from your government, following receipt of the report arising from the inquiry conducted by Adam Tolley KC. I called for the inquiry and undertook to resign, if it made any finding of bullying whatsoever. I believe it is important to keep my word.
It has been a privilege to serve you as deputy prime minister, justice secretary and lord chancellor. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work as a minister in a range of roles and departments since 2015, and pay tribute to the many outstanding civil servants with whom I have worked.
Whilst I feel duty bound to accept the outcome of the inquiry, it dismissed all but two of the claims levelled against me. I also believe that its two adverse findings are flawed and set a dangerous precedent for the conduct of good government. First, ministers must be able to exercise direct oversight with respect to senior officials over critical negotiations conducted on behalf of the British people, otherwise the democratic and constitutional principle of ministerial responsibility will be lost. This was particularly true during my time as foreign secretary, in the context of the Brexit negotiations over Gibraltar, when a senior diplomat breached the mandate agreed by cabinet.
Second, ministers must be able to give direct critical feedback on briefings and submissions to senior officials, in order to set the standards and drive the reform the public expect of us. Of course, this must be done within reasonable bounds. Mr Tolley concluded that I had not once, in four and a half years, sworn or shouted at anyone, let alone thrown anything or otherwise physically intimidated anyone, nor intentionally sought to belittle anyone. I am genuinely sorry for any unintended stress or offence that any officials felt, as a result of the pace, standards and challenge that I brought to the Ministry of Justice. That is, however, what the public expect of ministers working on their behalf.
In setting the threshold for bullying so low, this inquiry has set a dangerous precedent. It will encourage spurious complaints against ministers, and have a chilling effect on those driving change on behalf of your government - and ultimately the British people.
Finally, I raised with you a number of improprieties that came to light during the course of this inquiry. They include the systematic leaking of skewed and fabricated claims to the media in breach of the rules of the inquiry and the Civil Service Code of Conduct, and the coercive removal by a senior official of dedicated private secretaries from my Ministry of Justice private office, in October of last year. I hope these will be independently reviewed.
I remain as supportive of you and this government, as when I first introduced you at your campaign leadership launch last July. You have proved a great prime minister in very challenging times, and you can count on my support from the backbenches.
Yours sincerely,
Dominic Raab
Tolley is another Justin
ReplyDelete* Mr Tolley KC found a description of bullying had been met, whilst Mr Raab was foreign secretary and justice secretary.
* in relation to complaints from his time as justice secretary, Mr Tolley concluded Mr Raab "did not intend by the conduct described to upset or humiliate", nor did he "target anyone for a specific type of treatment".
* "His conduct also involved an abuse or misuse of power in a way that undermines or humiliates," the report added.
* "The deputy prime minister's conduct ... was experienced as intimidating, in the sense of excessively demanding..."
* Senior diplomat Sir Philip Barton told the investigation he had an informal meeting (where raab said) that he should threaten staff with the (breach of the civil service) code...
* Mr Tolley concluded he did not intend to threaten anyone with disciplinary action...
Unbearable to read. Imagine being one of raab's targetted victims & reading the KC's conclusion that raab met the threshold for bullying but that he never intended to because raab believes in a different threshold, i.e. raab says that "in setting the threshold for bullying so low, this inquiry has set a dangerous precedent".
To be fair it’s innocent until proven guilty.if the report says he didn’t do it then he didn’t.On the basis of the report his low bar” defence is right.Or are we all now accusing of bullying anytime someone is undermining or demanding?
Deletethe report says he did do it (hence he's resigned)... the report says he didn't intend to do it (hence his whining & conspiracy theeory)... the report says he did do it... the report says ... etc ad nauseaum
DeleteAs for where the bar should be set, Nazir Afzal sets it out clearly: "Let’s be clear, the threshold for bullying in the workplace can NEVER be too low, in fact, it should be on the floor"
Bullying is indefensible claptrap from those who are shit/inadequate at their jobs whether cabinet ministers, probation managers, probation officers/practitioners - or just human beings.
Capable & effective people have no need to resort to bullying, undermining, threatening, humiliating, making unreasonable demands of &/or belittling others, nor to abusing or misusing their positions of power.
Sexual violence, domestic abuse, coercion & control are all forms of power games played by bullies. The bar can never be low enough to address such behaviour.
There simply is NO defence for bullying, regardless of what raab or anyone says.
Not according to the BBC. I’m no Raab supporter but he’s right, that doesn’t really constitute bullying. There does have to be a threshold.
DeleteRaab was 'persistently aggressive' in a meeting
Raab described work as 'useless and woeful'
Mr Raab extended his hand "directly out towards another person's face with a view to making them stop talking". Loud banging on a table and finger-pointing were also among the complaints.
Mr Raab was said to have suggested those involved in a project had breached the Civil Service Code
Mr Raab's style was, in his own words, "inquisitorial, direct, impatient and fastidious"
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65339102
I think a certain Mr Tolley KC wrote the report, not a BBC reporter; & raab himself said if the report found him in breach of ministerial code, i.e. had been bullying people, he would resign. He resigned.
DeleteThere's nothing about raab to defend... unless one thinks bullying is ok.
Senior lawyer Adam Tolley KC, who led the inquiry, concluded Mr Raab's conduct involved "an abuse or misuse of power", and that he "acted in a manner which was intimidating" and "persistently aggressive" towards officials.
DeleteMr Tolley said he found a description of bullying had been met when Mr Raab was foreign secretary and justice secretary.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65358258