I saw this cartoon from Private Eye online in August and I've been pondering how to use it. For me it epitomises how huge chunks of the Civil Service are perceived by the public - Home Office; DWP and MoJ. It's a corrupting influence on the Probation Service and we need to break free.
And thanks go to the reader for spotting this story from Inside Time that adds to the growing mountain of evidence of a complete failure by HMPPS and MoJ to understand the probation ethos and frankly an unworkable clash of cultures between a uniformed service and us.
Restorative Justice ‘thwarted by HMPPS’Restorative Justice – where crime victims meet directly with offenders in an attempt to obtain closure – has been an important part of rehabilitation in prisons since the 1980s. It is supported by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Prisons Minister Lord Timpson.
Yet organisations which run Restorative Justice sessions across England and Wales claim that a unit set up within the Prison Service to extend and oversee the practice is in fact blocking it from happening.
Why Me?, a leading charity in the field, claims the unit – known as ‘reHub’ – is excessively risk averse, does not trust experts, insists cases are referred through its own process, takes decisions without consulting those involved, and fails to explain its thinking. Its lack of capacity to handle the volume of cases required is said to have prevented meetings from going ahead.
In an apparent acknowledgement of the problem, the Ministry of Justice has now ordered a review of reHub’s work “with the aim to identify areas for improvement”.
Restorative Justice involves perpetrators of crimes communicating directly with their victims, provided both parties agree, to discuss the incident involved. It is run locally, and may be funded by Police and Crime Commissioners or other charities. Victim Support recommends it. Agencies would work together to see if a meeting was appropriate, and if so, enable it either in prison or via probation. It has been found to lead to a 14 per cent reduction in reoffending, and 80 per cent of victims who took part say it helped bring closure.
In 2016, MPs on the Justice Select Committee found that Restorative Justice was operating inconsistently across the country, and made recommendations to strengthen the process. This led, in 2023, to HM Prison and Probation Service establishing the HMPPS Restorative Practice Hub (reHub). In February that year, the new unit published a strategy that was supposed to lay out guidance on the concept and responsibilities of those involved in the process.
However, charities believe that the unit has made matters worse. Why Me? says that since reHub became involved it has interfered in a system that worked smoothly and effectively, rather than looking at ways of expanding the scheme to other areas lacking in options.
Practitioners have spoken of their frustrations. Comments made to Inside Time include:
- “Probation will not even talk to us now without going through reHub. In the past, we could communicate directly.”
- “We no longer have access to initial conversations with prisoners to assess risk ourselves.”
- “There is a lack of communication. Timescales are hard to cope with.”
- “Panel meetings with reHub are dreadful. They talk down to us, though we have done this for years with great success.”
One man from London, a victim of assault, told us: “Due to reHub I pulled out of the scheme, even though it had been me who had requested the meeting. It was taking so long. I am so disappointed that I have not managed to get the closure I sought.”
A woman from north-east England, who we will call Lucy, had been robbed and injured by an attacker she wanted to meet to bring closure. Lucy said: “The delays they are causing are giving me stress. I took up the courage to ask to participate in Restorative Justice but the time they have taken to get it organised has made me even more stressed, so I have pulled out. I now feel worse than ever.”
“Why Me?” put these issues before the Prisons Minister, Lord Timpson. Inside Time has now been told by the MoJ: “The HMPPS Restorative Practice Hub (reHub) is conducting a focused internal review of the work of the team with the aim of identifying areas for improvement and provide actionable recommendations. It will assess current processes, team structure, policy challenges, stakeholder engagement, and data capabilities.”
Inside Time understands that this will be a three-month process. “Why Me?” says it trusts this process will end with reHub making a positive, not negative, contribution in the future.
--oo00oo--
And then more recently the failure to offer any support for the Nottingham-based Safer Living Foundation:-
https://insidetime.org/newsround/probation-experts-criticise-high-rate-of-recalls-to-prison/
ReplyDeleteProbation experts criticised the low number of experienced staff, the pressure under which they work, and the high number of people being recalled to prison, in a panel webinar run by the Howard League for Penal Reform.
DeleteSpeakers at the event (pictured) included Martin Jones, HM Chief Inspector of Probation; Helen Schofield, Chief Executive of the Probation Institute; Tania Bassett, National Official for the National Association of Probation Officers; and Gaie Delap, retired teacher and climate activist.
Ms Delap, at 75, had been imprisoned for her part in a non-violent climate change protest, but on release Serco had failed to find an electronic tag which fitted her wrist, and so just before Christmas she was returned to prison. Critics said her case highlighted the flaws in future plans to rely even more on technology within probation work.
Discussion at the event, chaired by the Howard League’s Director of Campaigns Andrew Neilson, was wide ranging. All participants expressed concern at the current state of probation and likely future developments. Panellists agreed that the high number of recalls was due largely to political pressure, and that investment was needed in people, not just in technology.
Participants all expressed unhappiness at the Government’s proposal to have photographs and personal details of those carrying out unpaid work in the community published in local newspapers. There was also concern over the idea of major companies in retail and other industries being able to use those on unpaid work within their establishments, with views expressed that this would be exploitative and unacceptable.
There was a need, all panellists agreed, for staff to receive better training and more support when there were mistakes made, as happens in all organisations, so that probation officers did not take the blame. They felt that technology had an important role in cutting back paperwork, but not in dealing with people, and probation work is all about people, not processes.
This was the latest in a series of ‘Spotlights’ events, held by the Howard League, that cover key themes across criminal justice, and which can all be viewed on their website.
It was an interesting discussion, I clicked on it when Jim put it up in a previous blog. Gaie Delap used the term "moral injury" to describe the trauma of the injustice she experienced. This term occurs to me whenever I read the comments section in this blog, or when I reflect on why I am still raging at the damage to my profession after retirement, or when I speak with colleagues still in work. Just recently one of them, talking about the terrible morale in their office, said "even the new staff, they,re hating it. They just dont feel they are helping anyone" It was sort of encouraging to hear that the new recruits, who have never known any different than HMPPS, are there because they want to HELP people, not batter crap into a laptop and breach and recall. I mean, there's the poor pay, and the vicious blame culture too, but right at the centre is the yawning chasm where a solid set of values and sense of justice should be. Anyway, back to Moral Injury, which depending on where you look for a definition, is a form of PTSD,. Collectively and individually, Probation is a traumatised organisation, and it is playing out in front of us. It plays out in this blog; the rage and the grief, the fury aimed at any and everyone who might have prevented or softened the damage. It plays out in work, the bullying and intimidation meted out by an organisation that, at least at the top, is run by people who sold their souls and they know it. Run by "leaders" (now that is a trigger word for our shared condition to flare) who spout guff about "trauma informed practice" but cant or wont translate that into what they do to their staff, like it doesnt tanslate into the work we are told to do. So it plays out in long term sickness and people just voting with their feet and leaving at the first viable opportunity. Heaven forfend Probation staff are instructed to name and shame their clientele in public. Such a stark horrible reminder of just how dismal the whole thing is, and where its heading. Question is, can anything be done to turn this tanker around? If so, what?
DeleteNo idea. The sanest of us have walked away without looking back.
DeleteSo, albeit after being threatened by crc bullies, I walked away & didn't look back - at least in terms of ongoing employment or a future career... despite red snapper's illicit attempt to entice me with £45/hr agency work using an email address they should not have had access to (my legal complaint & legitimate case was never progressed for no reason known/given to date beyond the barrister declining to proceed).
DeleteI continue to read & occasionally contribute here because JB & the committed commentators make the effort to expose the venality, the hypocrisy & the (frankly) criminal behaviour of the 'excellent leaders', the senior civil servants & the compromised politicians.
Power, control, wealth & greed define the current state of the country/world. UK labour is tory-lite; tories are right wing; reform is ultra right-wing. The libdems are centrist; our only left wing alternative seems to be the Greens... but I'm not yet convinced they know what they're doing. Zac's tit-enhancing history is rightly problematic.
I think there's every reason to be concerned about the future for probation service provision outwith the tagging & monitoring role.
There's an economic & profitable argument for the current trajectory, there are exisitng links & working relationships with private sector providers ... so why invest in expensive trouble-makers who might raise causes for concern that will disrupt the staus quo?
After 40+ years' employment my pension is £500/month. I'm still 4 years' shy of the state pension (yep, it keeps on moving). Part-time work as a barista keeps me in coffee & wine. Past investments in polar fleece jackets & down pants have reduced the heating bills.
I hope those who are enjoying Mediterranean retirement plans, amateur chef-ing experiences & roles on the boards of iconic cultural venues are happy, content & guilt-free in their lives.
Sociopaths do not feel guilt. Wishing you all the best.
Deleteaye, you're right, @07:30. And cheers, despite my winey whining I'm doing ok in the big scheme... occasionally get a bit overwrought, tired & emotional with the state of the world, the bullies, the abuse being doled out ... leaves me feeling burnt out, powerless to make any meaningful change. Being unable to sleep last night I saw a social media post by a retired Swiss politician who had sailed with the Sumud flotilla taking aid to Gaza & ended up ziptied in an israeli jail. His message was essentially 'I couldn't keep going to protests then go home; I had to do something substantial regardless of the impact on myself.' Made me think... maybe I need to get a backbone! Meantime I'll keep supporting this blog & those fighting for a meaningful probation service... fuck the sociopaths. : )
DeleteWould the state wish to lose the control over the criminal justice system it has now secured following the sham of TR? Would it willingly return the Probation Service to its original position of self determination and independence? The Tories are now talking about placing sentencing guidelines into the hands of politicians - how long before Labour are saying that's a good idea? Lots of traditional ideas are being destroyed - customer service, social justice, rehabilitation etc - we're now a nation of consumers, or units, in a market driven economy, losing our sense of community, justice and fairness for their own sake. I expect the last thing to go will be the lie being sold to new probation recruits that they will be spending their time 'helping' people - a blatant miselling of the role because the unfolding truth is too soul destroying to contemplate - that they will be monitoring, controlling and enforcing all day to align with the plan to finish off probation and integrate with the new ethos of units, markets and profits.
ReplyDeleteWe currently require 2 x experienced Probation officers for at least a 4 – 6 month contract in the States of Guernsey. Ideally, we would be looking for staff who can start from 1st November. Accommodation would be covered, along with the initial and final flight/ferry to Guernsey from the UK.
ReplyDeletePay Rate £40 Per Hour
Candidates should also complete the attached supporting information to demonstrate how they meet the key criteria for the role – points 1-10. The key criteria has been attached in this email (please provide a small paragraph answer to each question).
The supporting information provided by candidates in this will be used by the shortlisting panel when selecting candidates for interview.
Other things of note about this position before you apply – considerably different to the UK:
This role is different to the roles in the UK – instead of having a specialist area that you work, in Guernsey you will do everything, from attending court right through to the end of the process
This is not just case management – in Guernsey the probation officer will do the interventions work with the offender.
They understand that you may not have covered every area end to end in the process – but there definitely needs to be the willingness to do it all.
Prison – you will go to the prison as well unlike in the UK where a lot of the time you will hand it over.
Predominantly you will be working in the offices, not from home – being an island its unlikely that you will be longer than 15 mins from work, so you will be working in the office as part of the close-knit team
Team Player – important that you understand this element and that you are prepared to help out your team where required, this is a good team who work well together.
Likely to bump into your clients from time to time – restaurants or supermarket etc.
You get to see the process through from start to finish!
Case Loads – largely UNDER 30…
We can also offer a £350 bonus if you refer a friend/ Colleague who is successful in obtaining this role!*T&Cs apply
If you wish to be submitted this role please send me your cv, a photo of your DBS certificate and the completed attached key criteria form.