I've just noticed we've passed another milestone with 13 million visits recorded over the 15 year life of this blog. I guess there's no way of knowing how many of these visits have been by real people rather than 'bots' scraping the content on behalf of AI developers, but the 74,000 contributions from readers over the years are real enough for me and I thank them most warmly.
It would be an understatement to say the endeavour has been a significant part of my life over these years, bringing as it does much pleasure and pain, but every time I exclaim to my other half 'it's dying', it invariably kicks into life for some reason or other. But if I'm honest, even if the blog may not yet be of totally marginal relevance, the probation profession and ethos I feel so passionate about is finished here in England and Wales.
The 'new' government has reneged on its promise of a thorough independent review and have signalled a continuation of punitive criminal justice policies rather than enlightened ones. My Labour MP has made it clear he has zero interest in discussing the topic, unlike every previous incumbent I've been represented by, both Tory, Liberal Democrat and Labour. The political landscape is becoming more toxic by the day and I find myself being drawn towards other endeavours that have social purpose.
Probation continues to suffer from not having any high profile and authoritative champion and until such time the future looks extremely bleak. Nevertheless, I intend to carry on and will be in Eastbourne on Thursday October16th in order to meet colleagues both old and new over a beer or two. Hope to see some of you there. Cheers!
Good on your work JB and taking a pew at a bar near conference . Hanging around for those enlightened is a sharing of the better dialogue. Sadly listening to the AGM leadership with their duller than ditchwater non leading leader spineless mouse won't rally any serious intention. I hope something kicks in the adrenaline fix for those who have some hope although it won't come from Napo just the few optimists.
ReplyDeleteGreat job you’ve done. Yes, they’ve ripped the heart out of probation. I’m not sure the body has stopped twitching yet, but there’s still a feeling for what we do. I’m sure that will remain right up until the coffin is nailed shut, which may not be far off.
ReplyDeleteIt’s a shame. Just a decade ago we were a gold-standard probation service, full of experience and enthusiasm in the workforce. Now we are downtrodden, silenced, and left without a voice.
Make no mistake, you are one of our champions, alongside a handful of others prepared to speak out against the tide of opposition against them, sometimes from their own colleagues and managers too. These silent champions know who they are and should be applauded.
I was just searching for articles on advise, assist and befriend and this came up as the top hit:
Carry On Advising, Assisting and Befriending
https://probationmatters.blogspot.com/2022/08/carry-on-advising-assisting-and.html?m=1
Anon 08:08 Thanks for that and the timely reminder of a great Guest Blog form 2015.
DeleteAs author of that guest blog, cheers Jim - you help us to keep on keeping on.
Delete"Probation continues to suffer from not having any high profile and authoritative champion"
ReplyDeleteThis blog, the contributions & your efforts all represent a high profile & authoritative champion.
Its read by many, even though many of those many won't admit to it.
It allows the voice of the frontline to be heard, even though there are detractors & disruptors who try to undermine those voices.
It pisses off those who want the Probation ethos to lie quietly in its grave.
The fact the blog is still going, that contributions keep flowing & that there are impassioned posts means that the Probation ethos of "everyone has the capacity for change" will not rest, that making the effort to advise, assist & befriend is not a lost art.
Those who promote lock-em-up policies at the expense of humanitarian approaches to rehabilitation - housing, education, meaningful activity - need to take a long hard look at themselves, re-assess their positions of good fortune & privilege.
Those who blindly implement punitive measures simply because they are told to, or because they are "right" & it makes them feel better about themselves, should also take a step back and ask themselves "Why? What's the point?"
Sadly its not a good time to be optimistic about much; a recent cluster of noises from a desperate, terrified orange baboon trying to assert his territorial authority is testament to that, but...
... however cynical or frightened or hopeless we may feel at times, if we give up hope we may's well surrender the notion of a Probation ethos & lie silently in our coffins.
Be more like Beatrix, The Bride (KillBill) - punch your way out & keep on fighting.
https://www.cityam.com/ministry-of-justice-sacks-849-staff-over-misconduct-in-three-years/
ReplyDeleteThe Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has dismissed 849 staff members over the last three years for alleged misconduct.
DeleteA Freedom of Information Request, shared with City AM, revealed there has been an increase in the number of individuals receiving a penalty as a result of the conduct and discipline process at the MoJ, with a total of 1,325 over 2024.
The data includes staff from across the MoJ, including MoJ HQ, HM Prison and Probation Service, HM Courts & Tribunals Service, Office of the Public Guardian, Legal Aid Agency, and Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.
Between 2024 and 2025, 397 staff members were dismissed, while 384 received final written warnings, 496 received written warnings, 56 faced oral warnings, and 53 received penalties related to their grade.
The dismissal figures, which also include summary dismissals, were over 100 per cent higher than the 2021 figures, which reported 181 dismissals due to alleged misconduct.
Back in January, HMP Wandsworth was in the headlines after a former prison officer was jailed for 15 months after a video of her having sex with an inmate went viral.
While this month, a former prison officer who had pled guilty to misconduct in public office and possession of cannabis was sentenced after triggering 102 corruption concerns.
Kenny MacAulay, CEO of software platform Acting Office, said: “Large organisations like the MoJ face a monumental challenge when it comes to rooting out corruption, misconduct, and malpractice.”
This figures come after a damning report by Harriet Harman KC was published earlier this month that found the Bar does “not always” uphold its high standards when it comes to bullying, harassment, and sexual harassment.
The report stated that there are individuals in powerful positions who bully, harass, or sexually harass others, and “can be pretty confident that nothing will be done about it.” The Bar Standards Board (BSB) is the regulator for barristers, both in criminal and civil matters.
The MoJ was contacted for a comment on the FOI data.
foreign prisoners on your caseload?
ReplyDelete"Update 23 September 2025 – This revision is made to incorporate the changes to the ERS that will be made by The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Removal of Prisoners for Deportation) Order 2025, which comes into force on the 23 September 2025. The Order increases the maximum ERS removal period by reducing the minimum period to be served to 30% of the requisite custodial period and increasing the maximum removal period to 4 years. Guidance for transitional cases is covered in Annex B. This revision of the PSI also provides updated authorisation and refusal forms, removing the need for a separate form to be used for those within their parole period."
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68d1479b275fc9339a248b17/psi-04-2013-Early-Removal-Scheme.pdf
anyone on your caseload having their sentence reviewed for being 'unduly lenient'?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/outcome-of-unduly-lenient-sentence-referrals
"This document is intended to assist the public in reviewing cases which have recently been submitted to the Attorney General’s office. This includes the sentences examined, the outcome and details of the cases... Names of all offenders have been truncated to only include offenders’ initials. Offenders’ names are listed as ‘Restricted’ where reporting restrictions have been imposed preventing any information being published that could lead to the offender being identified. Members of the public can still search for specific cases by knowing the offence, court of sentence and original sentence."
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/police-carriage-of-naloxone-process-evaluation
ReplyDeleteThe Home Office commissioned Ipsos UK to evaluate police carriage of naloxone in England and Wales to understand the barriers and implementation and identify best practices through case studies. This research involved in-depth interviews with the police, NHS stakeholders and paramedics.
"As of December 2024, there have been 1,232 administrations of naloxone in the UK by the police since June 2019.
DeleteOne of the main barriers to implementation found in this evaluation was the resistance from the Federation and unions, which resulted in reluctance by officers to carry naloxone, due to fears about potential legal repercussions.
The findings indicate that while frontline officers demonstrated proficiency in naloxone administration, they were not equipped with the ‘softer’ skills to manage the after-effects of naloxone on people who use drugs, and the (full) understanding of the risks and benefits associated with the antidote.
naloxone training should be standardised across all police forces. This would ensure that all officers across England and Wales receive the same high-quality training. Consequently, all officers would be equipped with all the knowledge and skills necessary to respond to an overdose and administer naloxone effectively, further reducing the risk of harm and drug-related death for people who use drugs.
However, resistance to carry naloxone remains across police officers and more work is required to overcome this."
Ministry of Justice: Parole Board – 29 new psychologist members appointed for five years from 4 November 2025: Eleni Belivanaki, Catherine Bell, Carol Bond, Lucy Courtney-Brisbane, Kate Geraghty, Charlotte Griffiths, Madeleine Hamilton, Eliza Harris, Ionnie Henry, James Jackman, Nicola Jackson, Rupi Johal, Sharon Jones, Jacqueline Kennedy, Sarah Khan, Suzanne Lee, Leiya Lemkey, Avril McAlees, Amy Meeson, Khyati Patel, Emma Pearce, Sanjit Saraw, Samantha Scott, Diarmuid Sheehan, Yvonne Shell, Annita Tasker, James Taylor, Nicola Wallis, Rachael Wheatley. Five psychiatrist members appointed for five years from 20 January 2026: Jonathan Barker, Christine Brown, Caroline Mulligan, Samrat Sengupta, Rosalyn Tavernor. Seven judicial members appointed for five years from 20 January 2026: Andrew Bright KC, Francis Burrell KC, Patrick Fields, Michael Hopmeier, Judith Hughes KC, Richard Parkes KC, Caroline Wright. Independent Public Advocate – Cindy Butts appointed as standing advocate for five years from on 23 September. Privy Council Office – James Murray, Emma Reynolds and Anna Turley appointed to the Privy Council on 10 September.
ReplyDelete13 Million is a significant milestone!
ReplyDeleteWith everyone that comes into contact with the CJS ultimately ending up in one way or the other being channeled through the probation services, I have to wonder how long it will take the MoJ to match that number and have 13 Million people on probation?
There's a way to go yet, but that revolving doors keeps turning.
'Getafix