tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post2596505746780096355..comments2024-03-29T06:40:58.606+00:00Comments on On Probation Blog: Problem? What Problem?Jim Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-27401112823009834442013-11-23T09:41:39.271+00:002013-11-23T09:41:39.271+00:00Thanks! Read all about it - the transcript of that...Thanks! Read all about it - the transcript of that session with Margaret Hodge and what Serco, G4S, Capita and Atos had to say. Jim Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-17736670504112250672013-11-23T08:57:34.882+00:002013-11-23T08:57:34.882+00:00http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committ...http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/public-accounts/Transcript%2020%2011%2013.pdfAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-60644135974568643972013-11-23T08:45:43.012+00:002013-11-23T08:45:43.012+00:00Embattled Serco was dealt another humiliation last...Embattled Serco was dealt another humiliation last night after it lost the rights to operate three prisons it had previously been earmarked to run.<br />In July the outsourcing group, which has been hit by a string of scandals, was named as the last remaining bidder for the lucrative work. <br />But last night Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said the three prisons – in Hatfield, Moorland and Lindholme – would instead be run by the Ministry of Justice.<br /><br />It is yet another blow for the firm, which is already facing seven probes and has seen two of its most senior executives quit.<br />Investigations began over the summer after it emerged Serco charged the taxpayer for monitoring prisoners who were dead or had gone back to prison.<br />Grayling said the ‘delay and uncertainty’ caused by these investigations into Serco’s government work meant the group could not begin running the prisons. It comes as analysts warned that Serco and rival G4S could be frozen out of government work until 2015.<br /><br />Robin Speakman at Shore Capital blamed political wrangling ahead of the general election, which is in May 2015, and next year’s Scottish independence vote.<br />‘It is likely to be well in calendar year of 2015 before earnings momentum begins to rebuild for these companies,’ he said.<br />Analyst Hector Forsythe at Oreil said: ‘The biggest threat to Serco is Serco itself,’ adding the company’s business ‘has hit a wall’.<br />Serco has undergone a radical overhaul to try and win back government trust.<br />‘The rational response by the government should be to ensure that Serco is viable supplier to maximise competition in bidding,’ Forsythe added.<br />But he said he feared more shortcomings being exposed by current probes, which would ‘make embracing Serco’s rehabilitation that much harder for the Government’.<br />Shares rose 1.3p to 439.9p.<br /><br /><br />Jim Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-68039474358203768072013-11-23T07:11:30.709+00:002013-11-23T07:11:30.709+00:00http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-5ec5-Private-...http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-5ec5-Private-sector-parasitesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-1722631431288479522013-11-23T07:03:49.379+00:002013-11-23T07:03:49.379+00:002015?
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/ar...2015?<br /><br /> http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-2512055/Fresh-blow-Serco-loses-rights-run-prisons-following-string-scandals.html?ito=feeds-newsxmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-30635642401326373262013-11-22T22:11:38.498+00:002013-11-22T22:11:38.498+00:00Best news I've heard all day. I really hope th...Best news I've heard all day. I really hope that the MoJ and this Government are beginning to see the error of their ways, and that all this TR pie in the sky is going to come back and bite them. In my opinion G4S and Serco should not be given any more contracts. Public Services should be kept under public control so that they can be better audited and monitored. If an employee was to fiddle £24, never mind £24 million or so, he or she would have done enough to for termination of contract! I suppose the difference is that this obnoxious coalition needs the big companies, while the public sector workers are surplus to requirements. Anyway, I'm right pleased for the prison workers involved in those prisons. I'd much rather the tax I pay go towards other workers getting a fair days pay for a fair days work, rather than it going to large companies who screw their workforce, and like this government, are happy to consider them to be surplus to requirements. <br />David Hursthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00803126450017420488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-36006468696811255572013-11-22T20:04:14.670+00:002013-11-22T20:04:14.670+00:00I wonder how much of tax payers money has been squ...I wonder how much of tax payers money has been squandered before the MoJ's u-turn on their plans to privatise the three prisons.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00745878511004300244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-80743367299411610432013-11-22T19:59:36.162+00:002013-11-22T19:59:36.162+00:00I like this: 5 reasons why privatisation is bad fo...I like this: 5 reasons why privatisation is bad for you.<br /><br />http://weownit.org.uk/privatisationAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00745878511004300244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-65825877832778800122013-11-22T19:14:22.298+00:002013-11-22T19:14:22.298+00:00http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/...http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/22/serco-britain-public-services-g4sAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-86222374472173572682013-11-22T18:41:44.800+00:002013-11-22T18:41:44.800+00:00http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10468006/...http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10468006/Prison-privatisation-plans-dropped-by-Chris-Grayling.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-1182747802320384462013-11-22T18:14:54.409+00:002013-11-22T18:14:54.409+00:00What an interesting day ! Just heard Crispin Blunt...What an interesting day ! Just heard Crispin Blunt on radio 4 saying this prison u turn must not be allowed to derail the planned massive savings from other privatisations in the criminal justice system errr could he mean the probation sell off to G4s and errr Serco ? Does that indicate that their plans are too far advanced to back track on ??? Or perhaps probation just does not matter enough and this government does not want probation staff being allowed publicity to point out the bleeding obvious? Angry ? You bet I am. Crispin Blunt is spinning a blatant lie.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-55781291286836183622013-11-22T16:42:14.027+00:002013-11-22T16:42:14.027+00:00I think the difficulty you are having in joining u...I think the difficulty you are having in joining up the dots is because you are making the mistake of believing what the MoJ say! It's just a bit of kite-flying - an aspiration, hope, desire, whatever. A bit like them saying there's lots of interest from prospective bidders - yeah right! The SFO move really slowly - fact.Jim Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-11807284911503831682013-11-22T15:17:28.840+00:002013-11-22T15:17:28.840+00:00I find it odd that its announced today that these ...I find it odd that its announced today that these prisons are to remain in the public sector. If as we're led to believe that it will be prior to xmas that that we will know if 'a clean bill of health' will be given, or not given to the companies involved above, why would Grayling do a u-turn now and not wait a few weeks more?<br />Its probably a stupid question, but I can't join the dots up myself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-57118887752736192462013-11-22T14:15:23.271+00:002013-11-22T14:15:23.271+00:00http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/22/pri...http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/22/prison-privatisations-cancelled-serco-fraud-investigationAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-22935034083106275622013-11-22T11:59:17.252+00:002013-11-22T11:59:17.252+00:00Excellent news - Grayling cannot allow Serco or G4...Excellent news - Grayling cannot allow Serco or G4S to bid for probation work whilst the SFO investigation is ongoing. Note - the SFO is not known for speedy investigations. Jim Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-34607921906784375532013-11-22T11:25:56.395+00:002013-11-22T11:25:56.395+00:00Prisons privatisation cancelled amid Serco probe
...Prisons privatisation cancelled amid Serco probe<br /><br />19 minutes agoHMP Lindholme near Doncaster was one of those open to bidsPlans to privatise three prisons have been cancelled because of an ongoing investigation into the leading bidder.The justice secretary said the prison service would remain in charge at Hatfield, Lindholme and Moorland, all in South Yorkshire, while allegations against Serco remained outstanding.The contractor is accused of over-charging the government for electronically tagging criminals.Chris Grayling said he was cancelling the plans for "operational reasons"."The investigations remain ongoing," Mr Grayling said in a statement."The impact of the delay and the uncertainty this has created mean that for operational reasons we cannot postpone the outcome of the competition process any further."I have therefore decided that the competition for these prisons will cease and that all three prisons will be managed by HM Prison Service."Serco and G4S are both subject to an investigation by the Serious Fraud Office.An audit suggested they took money for criminals who were either dead, in jail or never existed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-86363573612437716062013-11-22T11:05:22.956+00:002013-11-22T11:05:22.956+00:00http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25052373http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25052373Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-50752119982642954372013-11-22T10:38:50.042+00:002013-11-22T10:38:50.042+00:00Financial Times Subscription = £29.00 per month!
...Financial Times Subscription = £29.00 per month!<br /><br />Is copy and pasting copyrighted writing into a blog read by 3,000 a day a form of theft always or only when we get caught? - discuss.<br /><br />- Let he among us who is without sin cast the first stone -<br /><br />http://biblehub.com/john/8-7.htm<br /><br />Andrew HattonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-38431368009366804812013-11-22T10:18:48.375+00:002013-11-22T10:18:48.375+00:00Well I messed that bit of copying and pasting up -...Well I messed that bit of copying and pasting up - but dedicated readers can unpick it I guess - I will pay for that dedicated journalism, like dedicated probation it costs money and professional dedicated staff!<br /><br />Similarly with trades unions - I just hope folk who are wisely and as far as I am concerned, welcomely joining up, keep paying their subs for the rest of their careers AND turn up at meetings AND take part in ALL postal ballots.<br /><br />That not enough of us have in the past, is why Napo got in such a mess in recent years, and also why Napo does not have larger resources now to match those of organisations like Serco, the MOJ so we get heard by the BBC whenever we have something that needs saying.<br /><br />Andrew HattonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-12314238969748059482013-11-22T10:07:50.649+00:002013-11-22T10:07:50.649+00:00It was The Financial Times and the main editorial ...It was The Financial Times and the main editorial of today.<br /><br />Free to view some articles, others over a certain period but they are trying to get us to sign up for a couple of quid a week or so. Maybe I'll have that as well as I no longer buy a daily hard copy most days: -<br /><br />http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ce3a9cfe-52b0-11e3-8586-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2lMpjTdHg<br /><br />Preceding the bit above is: -<br /><br />"High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our Ts&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email ftsales.support@ft.com to buy additional rights. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ce3a9cfe-52b0-11e3-8586-00144feabdc0.html#ixzz2lMqc2znP<br /><br />K state services<br />Britain’s outsourcing mania has gone much too far<br /><br />Since the Thatcher revolution in the 1980s, Britain has led the world in contracting out the provision of public services to the private sector. As a result, this is today a core part of government business. About half of the £187bn that the state spends each year on goods and services goes to private-sector contractors who provide things ranging from stationery to prisons.<br /><br />But outsourcing is today suffering a crisis of public confidence. Several are embroiled in scandals. Two major providers, Serco and G4S, are being investigated for allegedly overcharging the government for electronic tagging. A further 10 inquiries are under way into botched contracts, such as providing housing for asylum seekers.<br /><br />This week, top executives from the big four dominant providers – G4S, Serco, Capita and Atos – were summoned to parliament to explain themselves. Their tone was often contrite. But placing companies in the parliamentary stocks provides only limited relief. The bigger question is how the government can make this market work in the interests both of taxpayers and the consumers of services. There are three challenges.<br /><br />First, there is too little competition. Ministers must do more to allow smaller providers to grow."<br /><br />and succeeding it is : -<br /><br />"High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our Ts&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email ftsales.support@ft.com to buy additional rights. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ce3a9cfe-52b0-11e3-8586-00144feabdc0.html#ixzz2lMr9Amvi<br /><br />More generally, ministers need a more sceptical approach. This week, Francis Maude, the cabinet office minister, said the government was conducting rigorous reviews into G4S and Serco “and that when . . . we are satisfied full health has been restored, we will move on quickly”. This sounds too complacent. It fails to recognise that the pace of outsourcing has far outstripped Whitehall’s ability to manage it properly."<br /><br />Andrew Hatton<br /><br />Second, Whitehall needs to be smarter about how it bargains over contracts, especially those where quality of service is as important as price. Ministers often sign up for deals merely on the grounds that they save money. They also need to be more savvy about monitoring subsequent performance.<br /><br />Third, more transparency is needed. Taxpayers need to see in much greater detail how these companies make profits and who their suppliers are"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-62920033553792379302013-11-22T09:49:58.499+00:002013-11-22T09:49:58.499+00:00A snippet from the Times.
Outsourcing is no bad ...A snippet from the Times.<br /><br /> Outsourcing is no bad thing in principle. Having extended it to sensitive areas such as prisons, the temptation is to press on regardless. The government has a responsibility to tread carefully, however, when privatising new public sector activities such as the probation services – a plan it should rethink.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-33453897914783017882013-11-22T08:58:17.730+00:002013-11-22T08:58:17.730+00:00As Usual Jim's got it about right, as far as I...As Usual Jim's got it about right, as far as I am concerned.<br /><br />When the Probation story eventually made it on to a 'grown' up news story - people concerned about what goes on actually attend to ,it was on a Thursday night, the night those folk have a break from Newsnight and watch Question time on the other channel.<br /><br />There was Sadiq Khan, Labour top dog on Criminal Justice, did he sneak a reference to the failure of MOJ to negotiate within their own rules - nah - not as far as I can tel with what I saw & Tweets I've read about earlier part of that programme.<br /><br />This is not going to be won by logic, not yet, there is the Parliamentary Committee stage of the Offender Rehabilitation Bill, to go, so it is worth keep going.<br /><br />As other commenters are saying, on yesterday's blog - MORE is needed on the PR front. I suggested to Napo they pay someone extra for now - this is absolutely critical to Napo and probations existence - push the boat out.<br /><br />What might have helped was an immediate media hit after the failed negotiations - that night - not a few tweets and an email in the morning - the news media is 24/7 now. I am sure Napo folk came out of the 8 hour session on Wednesday drained - that is why extra is needed or we risk having smooth statements from MOJ & Serco and the rest of those with their budget directed at PR rather than service until the first TR inspired murder happens.<br /><br />Andrew Hatton<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com