I don't know what to make of No Offence the 'award-winning' Community Industry Company - "The voice for Criminal Justice. One Voice for Change". A bit presumptuous that, despite its illustrious supporters drawn from all corners of the criminal justice world and ranging from Lord Ramsbotham to G4S. The award seems to be in respect of business innovation, and their website carries job adverts, currently alongside a surprising guest blog from a guy with a long-standing grievance against Essex police. The testimonials page is full of breathless praise for past conferences and range from Probation Trusts to SERCO.
Having rooted around as much of the website as is available to a non-member, I conclude that the organisation has come about specifically in response to the government's intention to privatise further chunks of the Criminal Justice System. As much as anything, it's clearly an organisation focused on job creation, business contracts and career development opportunities that are going to arise during the public service breakup.
At the same time as I'm trying to absorb what all this means for stressed and over-worked public sector probation officers trying to do a useful job for society, I notice that it's only 15 days before the rather more sober Centre for Crime and Justice Studies hold a mini conference somewhat ominously entitled 'Downsizing Criminal Justice' . They clearly feel the whole sector has got way too large and are arguing for a massive re-balancing towards a 'non-criminal justice policy mix'. I couldn't agree more and guess that's about sorting out education, training, employment, housing, healthcare etc etc etc. Not exactly a novel idea, but all the proper business of government of course.
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