London walks out prompting statement from the chair.
There have been rumblings throughout Conference about the adoption by Napo of an electronic voting system for in person Conference attendees. Concerns about trust in those on the top table aside, this method has some advantages, especially when the result is close and in theory works well with those joining via Zoom who vote electronically. The issue arises from the fact that a simple card vote indicating a majority for or against is a transparent process and you can see who is raising their hand for or against, whereas pushing a button is not.
Some votes appeared to indicate for example that significant numbers of Napo members were apparently voting against motions, for example in support of anti discriminatory practice with no speakers in visible opposition. This led to London Vice Chair Patricia Johnson, who happens to be NEC black rep, to question the efficacy of the voting system. If on the one hand the voting system was working, then it is concerning that the day after adopting a Race Action Plan, significant numbers of members appear to be rejecting anti discriminatory practice. If it is not, then the voting system cannot be relied upon.
David Raho called for binary testing of the system in order to discover a percentage of error rather than the earlier food preferences test. Gordon Jackson pointed out that card votes had its advantages in terms of knowing voting was fair. Others expressed their views in a similar vein.
The top table rejected suggestions the voting system was at fault (of course they would otherwise it would have invalidated prior votes and caused a riot). It was the abrupt closing down of discussion and managerial type response from the top table regarding the implications of previous votes however that caused Patricia Johnson to walk out, followed by a significant number of other members many of whom were black. Patricia could be heard to say she no longer felt in a safe space at Conference and that when members highlight potential irregularities and possible discriminatory behaviour then this should be taken seriously - deeds not words.
Outside the hall a large number of members gathered clearly angry at the top table and completely in agreement with Patricia. Some urged her to return to the Conference floor stating ‘If you leave the racists win’.
It is significant that in all the time Patricia was outside the hall clearly angry and upset, no one from the top table thought to step outside to speak with her however later both Tania Bassett and Ranjit Singh appeared and there was obviously a degree of understanding and empathy of the situation, particularly from Ranjit.
Upon return from break, a statement was read out acknowledging that concerns had been raised about the voting system but indicating the top tables full confidence in it. Patricia returned to the Conference floor. Zoom messages not visible for more than a few seconds continued to flash up when online speakers were on screen, no doubt annoying the top table who clearly do not like to be questioned and are evidently overly defensive when this occurs.
The matter will rumble on.
(Anon)
"...could be heard to say she no longer felt in a safe space at Conference..."
ReplyDeleteSHAME, SHAME, SHAME on Napo.
Following on from the shock HMI report of institutional racism within the probation service (a shock to some, but not all), surely to goodness it is at the Annual Conference of the profession's union that *no-one* should feel unsafe around colleagues.
Sounds more like a meeting of the National Association of Civil Servants in Probation with so-called 'top table' "acknowledging that concerns had been raised about the voting system but indicating the top tables full confidence in it".
Sounds alarmingly like:
"Despite evidence that TR hasn't worked we're pressing ahead with TR2 anyway because *we* believe it will work - however much dismay, distress or chaos we might inflict upon others."
“If on the one hand the voting system was working, then it is concerning that the day after adopting a Race Action Plan, significant numbers of members appear to be rejecting anti discriminatory practice. If it is not, then the voting system cannot be relied upon.”
ReplyDeletePerhaps the voting systems works accurately. The reason we have a Race Action Plan is because there is discrimination within probation which includes amongst the staff. This from the news;
“Inspectors said they heard ‘distressing stories’ of inappropriate behaviour towards ethnic minority staff including instances of ‘stereotyping, racist and sexualised language, and false allegations’.
However, although inspectors described some of the problems as ‘systemic’, Mr Russell stopped short of branding the Probation Service ‘institutionally racist’.”
https://metro.co.uk/2021/03/16/probation-officer-propositioned-colleague-as-he-hadnt-slept-with-anyone-black-14254777/amp/
Unsafe and discriminatory behaviour is what many black staff face on a daily basis in probation offices. HMIP confirmed this, which is why the Race Action Plan was on the agenda. I think Patricia was being diplomatic because I’ve come across many unsavoury staff that use unions to legitimise their discriminatory behaviour. HMIP described racism in probation as “systematic” all the way to the top. Is it really that much of a stretch to think there are racists parading as Napo members and reps?
ReplyDeletehttps://metro.co.uk/2021/03/16/probation-officer-propositioned-colleague-as-he-hadnt-slept-with-anyone-black-14254777/amp/
Hear! Hear!
DeleteNo, its not a stretch to imagine that racists have infiltrated probation... or Napo... or anywhere.
Anyone remember when, I think it was Cumbria or Northumbria Probation Trust, employed the wife/partner of one of the BNP's key figures? How the fuck was that possible? My guess... "shared Christian vlaues".
In the climate of confusion, of hate & of utter bitterness that has reigned supreme over the last decade, it is not beyond belief that racists have slipped in through the net to further erode what was once a bastion of reasonableness.
And I mean just that - "reasonableness" - because Probation was not 'woke', or 'right on'. or 'cool'. Yes there were factions of extreme right-on-ness, e.g. some of my colleagues thought it would be advantageous to be curious about their sexuality at the expense of marriages or other relationships (and it did lead to significant career advancement for one or two), but there was an overwhelming sense that the state of being REASONABLE held the floor.
Back in the 80's & 90's, anti-racist training could seem brutal for those unaware or otherwise not exposed to racism, but it was a meaningful exercise & was born out of the need for REASON. It wasn't a means of expressing hatred, political bias or outright racist views. It wasn't, as some claimed, a means of revenge.
I was in the audience when a key figure in NOMS was called out in public [by a practitioner] for failing to deliver the promised anti-racism message in their presentation; I was also witness to a more senior NOMS figurehead berating that practitioner in a public lobby area, whilst simultaneously trying to comfort the weeping presenter. The anti-racism message was evidently long forgotten.
Racism is endemic in the UK.
That is just a fact.
Our current Prime Minister is a prime example of how disgracefully, disgustingly, appallingly racist we can be - despite his claims that some of his 'best friends' are: "insert ethnic determination here"
When I went berserk when the chair allowed Eithne Wallis to duck a question I asked from the floor - nobody came to comfort me - I walked up the Great Orme - I do not think I have had such a public dyspraxic outburst before or since - I felt utterly cheated by Napo and the NPS Chief Officer.
ReplyDeleteI also remember another member going barmy when William Whitelaw was speaking - That might have been at LLandudno as well - he was a collegue from Liverpool and rather intoxicated.
I was not there when they covered the bare staues at Brighton - that must have been a high point.
I do remeber Lord Hunt - of Everest fame - joking aside during his Presidential Arrest - saying I was just checking to see if Jean McEvoy was going to raise a Point of Order - this was in the NMAG phase of getting Napo to be a Union rather than staff association. Like me she later moved to London where she was a long-time stalwart of CSO - I recall her coming to Merseyide's Old Swan Office on business in her shiny red sports car. What memories! I belive she had an early death. I had some really passionate colleagues in Napo.
Not sure I understand what's wrong with members voting against motions?
ReplyDeleteIt’s what this represents that is the problem. Napo members were apparently voting against motions, for example significant numbers of members rejected anti discriminatory practice.
DeleteIf black Napo members and probation staff felt the need to walk out of the AGM in protest, the question is whether Napo can continue to claim a “commitment to equality, diversity and social justice”, or are suitable to “help protect you if you have problems at work” with the racist culture we know exists?
Props to London Vice Chair Patricia Johnson. Discriminatory views and behaviour within the Napo membership should be taken seriously. I think the Napo top table would be wise to really look at what has happened here and what this possibly represents within its membership.
Probation is an organisation that has a recognised problem with racism against both staff and clients. This is documented in a recent HMIP report. It is a huge problem when efforts to address this racism are rejected by significant numbers of members of probation’s primary union and professional association. Those that haven’t read the report should do so.
https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/media/press-releases/2021/03/raceequalityinprobation/
This was the motion given as an example of one that was passed by a large majority but a significant number of members voted against it:
Delete13. Anti-Discriminatory Practice
This AGM notes with concern the conclusion
of the HMPPS thematic inspection of Race
equality in Probation the experience of black
and minority ethnic Probation clients and staff.
The conclusions of the thematic inspection
were that there was little evidence around
sensitivity of ethnicity, culture and religion,
that good practice was hard to and find
Transforming Rehabilitation hindered services
for Black, Asian and minority ethnic Clients.
Therefore, this AGM agrees:
• recruitment is completed on a local basis to
ensure probation staff reflect the diversity
of local communities served supported
by positive action programmes where
appropriate;
• widespread and systematic monitoring of all
reports is put in place and the gatekeeping of
reports for diversity, previously successful in
the Probation Service is prioritised with time
allotted within the workload management
tool; and
• that David Lammy MP is invited to scrutinise
the Probation Service and further make
recommendations on his review of the
criminal justice system in 2017.
Napo and the Probation Service had a proud
history of anti-discriminatory practice and it
is now time to insist that we return to those
values and that all staff share and put in place
the values of cultural, religious and ethnic
sensitivity and understanding.
Proposer: Thames Valley Branch
Top table care and they would try to certainly rig everything they can. Under Lawrence who has got away with neutralising NEC poor Patricia has been Napo loyal very hard working. Some will have different views of her but I know her to be diligent and Napo loyal to her own fault. This fault illustrates how Napo expect black colleagues to lay down and take racism overt and covertly in the line of misguided duty. The top table are ill considered whenever racial issues pervade . Beleaguered members need a set of proper understandings before being Ill conceived professionals. They need to actually appreciate their primary responses versus sub conscious bias. Patricia has been used by Napo to a point she has to make such a dramatic stand. They carelessly neglected to care for her pain and position as an able black voice and yet destabilise her to an unsafe environment. It is more than shameful. Napo top table need to look at their credentials so far . A bitter infight that had financial award to a staff member a series of lost actions and the same stale approach of the institutional aggressive talentless chair.
DeleteWas the motion carried?
DeleteIt appears no one spoke against the motion? So what assumptions are being made about those who might have voted against it, and on what evidence are they being made?
The challenge around the efficacy of the voting system, I understand and might have some validity. But from what written above it sounds like a group of members were railing against anonymous voting, presumably because it allowed some to vote in a way they didn't approve of. It implies those votes against the motion would not have been cast by a show of cards. This could be perceived as members being bullied into voting a way that is 'acceptable '
I don't see why any member should expect 100% support for any motion.
As a profession we should excel in being objective, this episode doesn't tell that story at all.
I’d like to think %100 of members would vote for a motion to tackle the widespread racism in probation. Clearly significant numbers of Napo members do not. I’d say we have a problem. And if you think we don’t then read the HMIP report about the racist probation service.
DeleteThe voting system is not the problem as we want members to vote objectively. The reality however is that this will expose the true beliefs of some, which anonymous voting allows them to keep anonymous. Again, if some Napo members do not feel tackling racism within probation is relevant then we need to know.
How do you know they didn't oppose the motion because of how specific it was? Regional recruitment and the commissioning of David Lammy are really specific such that many have considered them problematic. They might simply have felt that there is already too much gatekeeping of work to welcome more?
DeleteWell meaning, laudable, motions often fall because the membership find sticking points in the minutiae. There may well have been legitimate reservations about this motion that can't be pegged as racist.
Fwiw I have no qualms about this motion and would most likely have supported it if I were in the room.
But I also supported motions to support Palestinian people at AGM in the past, and they also fell, not least because of the same NAPO branch.
Thank you to the previous responder at 13.35 as I was going to say the same. I'm not a NAPO member but I do take objection to the motion itself, that to solve the problems the HMIP report raised we should a) subject all staff to yet more QA style report b) commission YET another inspection, even though recommendations from the previous one have had hardly any time to be implemented.
DeleteI personally do support the idea of localised recruitment, though I do question sometimes whether the implication here is that people with minority ethnic backgrounds are "better" at working with ethnic minority people or do a better job at the things HMIP said we are poor at, but that's certainly NOT what HMIP said at all.
I do take objection to various posts here assuming people's motives for voting against a motion are inherently racist...or is the assumption here that because "lots of people" voted against the motion they "must be racist" or "the voting system must be flawed". Just because the motion is about anti-discriminatory practice does NOT make it a good motion - you may disagree and argue your case for why you think those actions are the ones NAPO should pursue and by all means it would be great to hear people's views on that, rather than assumptions about people's racist intentions.
Let’s say it how it is. Members walked out of the Napo AGM 2021 because of racist views and behaviours. There’s never been a “safe space” from race discrimination in probation . Why would a Napo conference be any different.
ReplyDeleteWhen people are prepared to vote in a Tory government, want to isolate themselves from Europe, support Donald Trump and excuse the Capital Hill rioting as merely an expression of democratic frustration, then its hardly surprising to find racism and discrimination polluting probation.
DeleteWhat racist views and behaviour would those be then?
DeleteThe ones that voted against actions and values to promote and protect cultural, religious and ethnic sensitivity and understanding.
DeleteThat doesn't evidence racism, it evidences they didnt agree with the motion and those two things are not the same.
Delete13:25 You vote for or against a motion or abstain. You can also speak against a motion if you disagree. The issue hear is that an anonymised voting system has enabled the haters and those opposed to ADP to make their presence known and felt. The only thing open and transparent is the end result. Napo has a tradition of card ballots where you make known to all how you are voting.
DeleteThis issue here doesn't appear to be that anonymous voting has allowed people to vote as they wish, but that some are assuming their reasons for their voting without basis.
DeleteYou are making massive assumptions when you characterise those who voted against that motion as 'haters' or 'opposed to ADP'
17:33 But the fact that they might be seems worthy of a discussion and an opportunity to hear opposing views. The discussion should not have been closed down. Stage managing and closing down discussions is not what AGMs are about as they are supposed to be about calling the leadership to account and raising issues that need to be heard in a safe environment.
DeleteNapo HQ thinks it is pretty much unassailable when it comes to race but should constantly examine how it behaves. Ian Lawrence identifies as a member of the BAME community and says he has been a victim of racism. https://www.napo.org.uk/black-lives-matter-ian-lawrence-writes The Assistant General Secretary Ranjit Singh is an Asian man.
ReplyDeleteLawrence writes about Black Lives Matter
"It’s also about listening
One of the central and equally important messages to have emerged in the last week is one which urges all decent minded people who are genuinely opposed to racism but who have not experienced it, to listen to the voices of their BAME sisters and brothers."
These are fine words THAT MUST BE BACKED UP WITH ACTION.
The Napo Chair Katie Lomas certainly wasn't listening to
There cannot be many unions led by Black and Asian people. However, it is actions that count and Lawrence was missing in action when Patricia Johnson, a hard working probation officer worthy of respect who is also a black woman, walked out in disgust saying that Napo Conference was no longer a safe space for her and other black people. This Lomas's chance to show Napo listens and was Lawrence's moment to redeem himself and show his mettle but he abjectly failed to read the mood and seize the moment and support Patricia. All that was required was a little empathy and humility and their unequivocal support to many other Black colleagues in the hall by calling out the racists. They showed no backbone at all and it is a shame and a total disgrace. They should write a public apology to Patricia at the very least and if they were at all honourable then they should resign stating that they have failed to ensure Napo is an anti racist organisation.
It has been said Napo have several actions against them . Those people have all been minority members of difference. Ring some bells ? Do we need any further evidence . Under the Lomas Lawrence watch Napo remains and indeed emboldens the emotional response to reject pro minority interest. They do it because they have vested interest in status quo . It is not us it's them approach because neither of these two have the intellect or empathy to function in the roles. Napo need to look at why it chooses these people as the figure head and first officer. Neither have a track record of real achievement and the chair address so obviously and gently unchallenging anything. Arghhhhh.
DeleteGood to meet others in person but Napo really let itself down when they denied one of their most prominent and influential black members a voice. She should have been listened to. It was her conference too. Am I right in thinking that the entire officer group is white and Patricia is the only black member of the NEC? If that is the case then Napo needs to practice what it preaches.
ReplyDeleteVia email:-
ReplyDelete"Really appalling behaviour. Patricia is one of the reasons Lammy and other black Labour politicians have anything to do with Napo as she used to be quite active in political circles. Napo wheels her out as an articulate black practitioner member of Napo on many occasions including Napo women’s conference and trainee events. They then try to close her down when she questions them and doesn’t play ball. The MoJ behave in the same controlling way. I think she has earned the right to be heard without being spoken to in a patronising way by Katie who quite frankly abused her position by cutting her off, waiting until she had sat down, and then insisting on having the last word."
I think online voting is also not reflective of the vote responsibility equation, as secret ballot is only reserved for certain situations only... now all voting become online and secret... responsibility element of voting disappeared...
ReplyDeletehttps://www.davidputtnam.com/viewNews/n/lord-puttnam-retirement-full-speech/
ReplyDeletePOWER AND FEAR – THE TWO TYRANNIES
Please read David Puttnam's speech.
These are the twin towers on which all forms of bigotry are based; the two sources of energy that motivate abusive behaviours.
There needed to be an emergency motion of censure of the officers group. Investigation disciplinary potential outcome. Racist Napo.
ReplyDeleteI was at NAPO and .Only one motion passed with 100 percent. I think the anti discrimination one was passed with 98 or 99 per cent of the vote. None of the motions were controversial but a union is democratic and members can vote how they like. Sometimes people vote against cos the motion was badly presented or doesn't say how they'll do things. If all motions shd pass then there wd be no point in voting on them.
ReplyDeletePatricia was upset cos the anti discrimination one did not pass with 100 percent.Thats not top table's fault , is it?
16:39 Ah Schrödinger's delegate. It is then both possible to be at the Conference and not at the conference. One motion was indeed passed with 100% after the voting system fell under scrutiny. Previous to this the highest scoring was 99%. Scores on various motions varied considerably. Of course people can vote as they want but the point is that voting anonymously is very different from a simple show of voting cards. Did you notice there were no actual speeches against? All motions passed as there were no controversial motions as the top table strategy of delaying matters meant only those motions that had already been voted on to establish the motion order. Logic would indicate that as the motions are dealt with those further down the running order would get correspondingly less votes. The variable factors are good speeches for and against although as previously indicated there were none against. I can do the maths but the in depth explanations are lengthy and boring. If you map the percentages for and against against the progression there should be a predictable pattern even allowing for aberrant input. The vote against particular motions indicated an unusual swing of 10% or more that could probably only be explained by some kind of strong personal opinion or prejudice. A spike.
DeleteIt is important not to fall into the trap of mixing 'the issue' which is indisputable with 'the response' to 'the issue' from the top table that was extremely poor and was what ultimately upset Patricia.
How else can voting happen in a hybrid event? On liners can't put up a card so it has to be electronic? As I said the only motion that passed with 100 per cent was the sfo transparency one.
ReplyDelete23:58 There are various ways to deanonymise voting that might address the problem of openness and transparency. For example a voting dongle in hall is registered to an individual user and online users registered to a voting app. Remember that Napo Conference is a monitored event that is supposed to ensure the safety of participants. The current voting system runs counter to this and allows people to anonymously express discriminatory views that they would not do in a visible card vote.
Delete23:58 The SFO vote surely proves the point that the voting system was working and those votes against motions that were pro ADP and against misogyny were accurate and indicate a covert minority acting against the agreed principles of the union. More importantly against other members who are black or women or both. You are effectively arguing in support of that practice without regulation.
ReplyDeleteRead the news. There’s a problem of widespread racism and misogyny in probation. Of course this exists in Napo too.
Deletehttps://metro.co.uk/2021/03/16/probation-officer-propositioned-colleague-as-he-hadnt-slept-with-anyone-black-14254777/amp/
Course you are and the stupidity of it too . Showing up napo maybe but sinister is the underlying racism . Probation voters closed ballot or electronic have opened the door for a need to purge racists attitudes. No one on Napo events like conference should attend before some appropriate ADP training and union expectations of your memberships terms.
Deletea wee covid post in support of those who attended conference online.
ReplyDeleteSome key points about why UK/England is steaming ahead with covid as compared to other EU countries (courtesy John Burn-Murdoch @jburnmurdoch - Stories, stats & scatterplots for @FinancialTimes | Mainly Covid for now | Visiting senior fellow @LSEdataScience):
* mask-wearing has plummeted in England and reversing that would help
• higher rates of crowded indoor mixing are likely a bigger issue
• both are almost certainly dwarfed by UK’s much more acute waning problem (as seen in Israel)
* UK has far worse sick pay than other Western European countries, making it much harder for people who do get sick to stay home and protect others
* older people are far more likely to be in poverty in the UK than elsewhere
UK +ve Cases are 45,000 a day
UK Deaths are mearly 1,000 a week
UK Hospitalisations are nearly 1,000 a day
UK govt doesn't even pretend to care anymore - not that it ever did.
What's this all about the motion passed no opposition and voters against lost out by miles. What have 8 missed here. Is there some issue members of Napo are not allowed to vote in the other direction. They may have reservations about something. In any case voting differently is a democratic right. Speeches for were made and a vote called. The outcome is a resounding win so what have I not understood here please,
ReplyDeleteYours confused.
The ADP motion was very straightforward. Although it was agreed, some voted against it. I’m quite shocked that I have colleagues that would vote against a really good motion to address racism and misogyny which we know is a huge problem in probation and CJS. Anonymous votings means colleagues that harbour these views can peddle their discriminatory views while in plain sight
Delete16:45 Motions were passed without any speeches against. The vote at a normal Napo AGM Conference is carried out by raising cards and carried or defeated by a simple majority. If there is any doubt then a secret ballot is carried out using pre issued voting papers. The process is monitored to ensure fairness. The electronic voting system used was completely anonymous and not linked to an individual delegate. Uncontentious motions that would normally have been carried unanimously with a card vote started registering a percentage of votes against (no speeches against). this in turn started raising suspicions. When this was brought to the attention of the union officers and officials over first consulting both the steering and the monitors of the conference the matter was dismissed. This angered members concerned who walked out in protest. You need to understand that where the fairness/efficacy of the voting system being used at an event where democracy is being taken very seriously and voting patterns appear to indicate a percentage of voters voting in a particular way for example against any motion seeking to support women or against discrimination then this would make women and black people attending such a conference feel uneasy or even umsafe. This is the first time to my knowledge that members who are black have walked out in protest at a Napo conference stating that they feel unsafe. If anyone remembers a previous walk out by black members then please say. Lots of excuses were made to excuse those voting against a particular motion 'People are pressing the wrong button' 'Some people are finding the buttons too small' 'Some people are confused because there are many buttons on the device' 'Some people are voting because they dont like the way the motion is worded' 'Some people are voting against the motion because it is London' etc etc Those who think this was a storm in a teacup really are missing the point that trade union leaders really ought to take seriously internal protests when the people that are doing it are the very people that they have stood on platforms getting rounds of applause saying they are going to protect and fight for. What ocurred was a white woman in a position of power speaking from a stage with control over the microphones closing down and silencing an ordinary member who was also a black woman who was prevented from responding because the person on stage kept making further provocative comments repeatedly after the member had left the delegates microphone and returned to her seat. Once is an oversight but to do it two more times is quite frankly a display of power and clearly intended to humiliate the member into not returning to the mic again to respond. Patricia kept coming back because that is the only way to make a stand. That's what happened and those who allowed this abuse to happen should be ashamed.
ReplyDeletePower and Fear - the toxic twins.
DeleteWhether alone or in any combination you choose, they fuel hatred, bigotry & any amount of abusive behaviours. The perpetrators rarely accept they are wrong, usually when they themselves feel threatened.
Power - exercise & abuse of Power over others
Fear - of what others represent
Power to induce Fear in others
Fear of losing Power to others
... etc, etc, etc...
Johnson holds a position of Power but lives in a constant state of Fear. His most common response when caught out by his Fear is to lie; but he also has a track record of bullying, bigotry & hiding.
The vast majority of Probation management, Napo 'toptable'... mostly incompetents out of their depth in positions of Power who operate in a state of Fear.
@23:03
DeleteSorry, you lost any credibility when you dismissed
'Some people are voting because they dont like the way the motion is worded'
As an 'excuse'. Not supporting a motion because of its wording is absolutely our responsibility and a perfectly legitimate reason for not supporting it.
Again, there is nothing inherently wrong about opposing a motion at conference. There is something profoundly wrong about assuming the reasons for that opposition and then ascribing racism without evidence. It is even more wrong to want our AGM to bully or drown out different opinions through shame and fear of castigation.
I thought ours was a mature profession, I'm having to rethink that belief precisely because there appepar to be those colleagues who think we should all be of one mind and are willing to assume the absolute worst of friends and co-workers, when it might simply be that they applied critical thinking. It concerns me that colleagues are foregoing their own critical thinking to leap to those unsafe assumptions and what that tendency might mean for the people we work with.
The simple fact is an overwhelming majority supported the ADP motion, excellent, that's something tangible for us to celebrate.
A snippet from Puttnam's speech:
Delete"There is a short speech in the 1987 movie ‘Broadcast News’ that I’ve used a number of times when teaching my communication students.
At one point the character ‘Aaron’, played by Albert Brooks says:
“What do you think the devil will look like when he next comes around? Nobody’s going to be taken in if he starts flashing a long red pointy tail... No, what he’ll do is just bit by bit lower standards where they’re important. Just coax along flash over substance .... just a tiny bit at a time!” "
Thatcher, Bliar, Cameron, May, Johnson - chipping away, dumbing down, wealth above over health...
... or in the case of Probation, MoJ/NOMS/HMPPS diluting the training, managerialism over professionalism, chumocracy over integrity...
Puttnam adds: "Maybe in our case he’ll substitute a long red bus for the long pointy tail; paint a massive lie on the side, and find a group of unprincipled acolytes to defend it!"
He also said:
"... the Rubicon had been crossed five years earlier, in the aftermath of the Reichstag Fire and the subsequent Enabling Decree, which effectively disbanded Parliament and handed absolute power to Hitler.
The full title of the Act was ‘The Decree for the Protection of the People and the State’.
It’s an interesting word ‘enabling’, it sounds fairly harmless – as in ‘enabling’ a child or an elderly person to safely cross a road.
How often do powers accrue to Parliament through a piece of legislation whose intent is the precise opposite of its title?"
These little 'superspats' happen everywhere; those *with* the power describe them as "coming with the territory" while those in less powerful positions are ground into despair. Hence the scrabble to climb that greasy managerial pole - and stay there at all costs.
ReplyDeleteToday's FBI activity surrounding Oleg Deripaska reminded me of BliarWeasel's mate, Sleazeball Mandelson (official title, I believe) back in 2008, when Mandy & George Osbourne shared the hospitality of aluminium oligarch Deripaska:
"it was claimed that Mandelson had "dripped pure poison" about [Gordon Brown] during a meeting with George Osborne at Taverna Agni on the Greek island of Corfu.
Both men admitted the meeting took place, but, angry at the allegations, Mandelson threatened to reveal what the shadow chancellor had told him privately about the Conservatives."
Sadly Mandy didn't reveal those pearls of wisdom; it could have prevented a Tory government in 2010...
"One week later, the Sunday Times reported Mandelson gave trade concessions worth up to £50m a year to Russia's richest man after being entertained by him on his "superyacht". "
And so this 'spat' at Conference is why I & others have little to no trust in Napo 'top table', who are up to their necks in it with HMPPS.
Its *not* the voting numbers, its *not* the voting means - its the power-assisted assault on those who dare to lift the lid, who dare to question the status quo.
And that's why there's the heart-sinking suspicion & lack of trust:
- of racism within the union
- of dilution of professional & ethical standards
- of collusion between Napo & NOMS/HMPPS, with Napo seemingly enabling the policies of "the centre" whilst disabling the voice of members
Yes more than suspicion why Napo have not been honest top table NEC concealed a payment to a staff member for abuse of racism from the recently departed assistant. Come on Napo come clean . There is a lot of interest in the cover ups.
Delete08:03 This is an uninformed comment. Payment was made to an elected officer following a complaint about the then general secretary. Things have moved on and lessons learned. Napo is no better or worse than any other organisation. Why feed the haters and gossips.
DeleteI'm quite aghast that people here assume that the (apparently very small percentage) of people who voted against this motion did so on racist grounds. People above have literally written "it was about anti-discrimination, so that's the only conclusion". I'm absolutely shocked.
ReplyDeleteI personally have lots of issues with this motion - I DO accept the HMIP report, but I (personally) don't consider that the best ways to bring change are to a) scrutinise reports or b) ask David Lammy to conduct another review. Am I racist because I consider there to be better ways to achieve the aim?
I didn't go to conference but the assumption made by some people here is that if you EVER vote against a motion that has relevance to anti-discriminatory practice then you are racist. I'm aghast - if this had indeed been a "showing your cards" vote I would have had no idea that is what people's assumption of me would have been.
You might be genuine or naive . In the face of report clearly directed at all ADP failures so far then the current regimes don't deliver. You are obviously white middle class and completely oblivious to bme
DeleteHardships. Constant lack of support name calling. Quiet conversations and hush when passing colleagues. Managers criticism disproportionate. Lack of development in favour of chums. You need to consider a no vote is an indication of the racism deniers. Please read the report and then tell bme colleagues you don't support actions to see it's conclusions pursued into future workings. This is the worst possible signal that Napo members are divided on racism issues. The demonstrated what the report says by a split vote.
Far worse that is the white top table don't understand these issues. Despite individual claims of background failing this issue highlights the dishonesty and gross incompetance of all them. Any overtures the could be directed to make to moj will be met with snide response the issue your members are divided.
@08:23
ReplyDelete"You need to consider a no vote is an indication of the racism denier"
This is where you're making a false, unevidenced and harmful assumption.
You've listed some appalling workplace behaviours, but I don't see how this ADP motion would actually address any of them.
Have you stopped to consider whether those who opposed the motion may have been if the view it didn't go far enough?
These examples are outlined in the hmip. It is about unity one cause and no place for wavering. If the union don't support the motions to combat unfair workplace then we can all expect the shameful conclusions drawn by hmip. Your defence is questionable. Pity you have a chance on a simple solidarity cause of unity and Napo bigotry wins through instead. Let's blame the motion authors for making it so easy for you. That would be absolutely discriminatory too.
Delete"You need to consider a no vote is an indication of the racism denier"
DeleteIt could be or it could not. It seems the aggrieved person was not able to raise this point. This is the problem.
@20:51
DeleteBut the union did support the motion with an overwhelming majority
Ouch do not blame Patricia Johnson for not thinking fast when obviously upset perhaps abstentions instead of a no vote. Perhaps PT had thought this but the chair just ploughed on against her commenting several times in a display of abusive bullying power.
Delete7:55 not the issue . The voters against this motion and their motivation and the implications . Is it ok for a union to ignore the issues curtail the speaker and go on after she left . Answer NO
DeleteI have many black friends and colleagues. I know that they are not always right in the same way that I am not always right. We tend to have polarized views, people all make mistakes and can be mistaken only psychopaths believe they are always right. Reflect and think on. Work together.
ReplyDeleteThat's right blame the victims of inequalities and then label the rest as psychopaths. Your narcissism is oozing out as you defend the nasty side of prejudice.
DeleteA black woman attended the probation Napo conference and stated she didn’t feel safe because of the opinions and behaviours of other colleagues in attendance. Napo senior officials shut her down rather than deal with her concerns.
ReplyDeleteThis is no different from the countless black men and women in probation offices that don’t feel safe for the very same reasons The very same that are shut down and ignored by probation managers and senior managers.
This is exactly what the HMIP report has exposed.
“many surveyed staff did not feel it was safe to raise issues of racial discrimination at work and lacked faith that complaints would be handled appropriately. Inspectors heard serious complaints had been repeatedly downplayed, ignored or dismissed”
https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/media/press-releases/2021/03/raceequalityinprobation/
If I 'don't feel safe' in an environment does it automatically mean my ethnic origin is the reason or could the use of such a reason be a useful ploy?
DeleteRacism in probation? Work in London, this is a regular occurrence. The irony is that many racist colleagues use Napo to hide and justify their racism against BAME colleagues. Truth be told, the Napo exec regular meets with the all white senior management group who are the architects of the discriminatory bullying culture. The HMIP report means zilch when probation and union elites continue to operate above the law.
ReplyDeleteOf course union leaders from all unions meet with senior managers. The senior managers are mostly white but the majority of union leaders are black. No one operates above the law - that’s an outrageous accusation. Napo and other unions have championed anti discriminatory practice. The general secretary Ian Lawrence is black and the assistant general secretary Ranjit Singh is Asian and has worked tirelessly for equalities. Ian has frequently denounced racists. Save your ire for the real racists and call them out. Accusing union leaders of being racist is a cheap shot. Discrimination exists in all organisations. Napo is by no means the worst and is at least working towards becoming discrimination free.
DeleteOh no. I don't accept this. Ian Lawrence anti racist champion. The man has no active record of any challenge just the opposite. His record has many a skeleton and Napo abuse of minority members has been seen. The resignation of a chair has a vicious back story and the new AGs has his scars from what's well known in activists circles. Napo needs change from him and the chair to get renewed proper member inclusive direction.
DeleteMajority of union leaders are black? What unions have this level of equality to leadership.
Delete“Napo is by no means the worst and is at least working towards becoming discrimination free.”
DeleteAnd yet at the it’s conference Napo leaders shut down a lone black woman who said she felt unsafe.
Becoming discrimination free. Are bme members expected to be happy with this support for a dysfunctional chair. Ok if the union is therefore discriminatory why are bme colleagues rates for membership the same. I see the money is equal but not the equality of treatment . What a foolish statement 2230 you must a bit wanting or a Napo insider which amounts to the same thing.
DeleteThere's an interesting report by the probation inspectorate regarding race and offending published in today's Telegraph.
ReplyDelete"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/10/21/many-young-black-offenders-victims-war-zone-estates-claims-report/
" Many young black offenders are victims of ‘war zone’ estates, claims report
Chief inspector of probation says ‘significant number’ are brought up in areas where they are criminally groomed and exploited
Many young black offenders should be treated as victims because they are living on estates that are like "war zones", according to a major report on race by the chief inspector of probation...."
'Getafix
Press release:-
DeleteBlack and mixed heritage boys receiving poor support from youth offending services
Inspectors have found “significant deficits” in the quality of work conducted by youth offending services and partner agencies with black and mixed heritage boys.
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation reviewed a sample of cases from nine youth offending services across England, as well as inspection data gathered over a 12-month period. Inspectors spoke to senior leaders and youth justice workers, and worked with an agency to hear from some of the boys.
Chief Inspector of Probation Justin Russell said: “There is a disproportionate number of black and mixed heritage boys in the youth justice system. Addressing this disparity has been a long-standing goal, but we found a lack of clarity and curiosity about why this disparity exists and what needs to be done to change it.
“Good intentions must translate to positive practice and real improvements across the country. More must be done to understand and meet these children’s needs earlier on, to prevent yet more black and mixed heritage boys from entering the criminal justice system further down the line.”
Youth offending services work with 10 to 18-year-olds who have offended or are at risk of offending. Some children have been sentenced by the courts, while others are being dealt with outside the formal court system.
Many of the black and mixed heritage boys in the inspected cases faced multiple disadvantages. Sixty per cent of those who had received a court sentence had been excluded from school; youth justice staff found it very challenging to find suitable educational alternatives for these boys.
Half of the boys in the inspected cases had faced racial discrimination in their life; a third had been victims of criminal exploitation and a quarter had a disability.
Mr Russell said: “Youth justice staff told us the majority of black and mixed heritage boys that they work with have multiple and complex needs, for example with education or emotional and mental health issues.
“Yet many of these children are only receiving support with these needs for the first time through the criminal justice system. This is simply unacceptable.
“We have to question why social services, education teams and other agencies are not intervening earlier. Why are these boys less likely to be referred to Early Help services or more likely to be excluded from school than their white peers?
“Youth justice workers are united in the view that the early detection of problems would have led to different outcomes for these children. Instead, these boys are acquiring criminal records that can have lifelong consequences.”
Inspectors found some practitioners had formed good relationships with the children they supervise and their parents/carers, but they did not always take the opportunity to delve deeper.
Mr Russell said: “We found some staff lacked the confidence to talk to the boys and their families about discrimination, culture, and the specific challenges they face because of their ethnicity.
“These topics are too important to push aside because they can have a direct bearing on a child’s behaviour and motivations as well as their life chances and opportunities.
“For example, some of the boys we heard from had been stopped and searched by police four or five times a week. These experiences affect how the boys interact with all parts of the criminal justice system – even those that are trying to offer support.”
Stop and search was found to be particularly common for black and mixed heritage boys in London. Some boys accepted racial profiling as a fact of life; others described how moving away from the capital had reduced the frequency of searches and improved their wellbeing. The Inspectorate recommends all forces publish stop and search rates by age and ethnicity.
The Inspectorate has made 18 recommendations to improve services for black and mixed heritage boys. The Inspectorate will also introduce a stronger set of standards for its routine inspections of youth offending services.
Press Release:-
ReplyDeletePrison Reform Trust director, Peter Dawson has written to Jo Farrar, Second Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice and Chief Executive Officer, HM Prison and Probation Service to seek clarification on the delivery of the HMPPS Race Action Programme.
The 3-year programme has just 12 months left to run, but there is no publicly available detail about how progress will be assessed; what resources are available; what the timescales for delivery are; or what objectives it seeks to meet. What limited information has been made available has a disproportionate focus on staff, with only brief mentions of prisoners.
In the letter, Peter Dawson writes:
“We are surprised that the section on data only describes the ethnic makeup of the prison population (over which HMPPS has little control), but not the evidence of disproportionate outcomes in use of force, categorisation, disciplinary procedures, complaints handling, and other areas of the prisoner experience regularly highlighted by the inspectorate and other independent observers.”
A copy of the letter is available by clicking here. A copy of the response will be published when we receive it.
Beverley Thompson OBE, former HM Prison Service Race & Equalities Adviser & Board Member, has written in the latest edition of our Bromley Briefings Prison Factfile, that the prison and probation service has regressed in its efforts to tackle racial disparities. You can click here to read her assessment.
“the prison and probation service has regressed in its efforts to tackle racial disparities.”
DeleteDid they ever really get started ?
'If you leave the racists win' or to put it another way let's say we feel'unsafe", that'll do it. In other words as soon as the race card is played the narrative is fixed.
ReplyDelete