I matured professionally and personally In Community Service (what a positive concept) in Bristol in the 1980’s. I spent a lot of energy inviting a well-known but reluctant playwright to visit “my” projects. He taught me about the structures of sitcoms. For instance, the need to have a Trap, unlikely characters confined to a particular space. It seemed to me then that a Community Service project was a perfect trap, and a thing worth celebrating.
While I was dragging him fruitlessly around my workplace, admin Elaine Merchant was busy typing away on our state-of-the-art golf ball typewriter in the Fishponds (Bristol suburbs) Probation Office, while her husband Ron supervised clients on placements. Their boy has done not so badly and has a show on the telly which I highly recommend. It’s a slow burn and the blend of really funny (whitewashing an actual Banksy from the wall of a community building) with suspense and grit is unsettling. The Guardian review is here, and I won’t compete, but here are a few comments.
If you are looking for a fly on the wall observation about unpaid work, this isn't it.
It however gets the spirit of Community Service as I first encountered it. A joyful embracing of the weird and disparate people we were and worked with. An understanding that the State is not going to solve individual problems, mainly of its creating, only good connections and care can go anywhere near that.
Having said that, most of our clients were impoverished young men, badly dressed for the weather, rightly cross about the indignity of their situation with us. Aggressive and vulnerable in equal measure in their denim jackets in the freezing wind in a Bristol winter, more vulnerable than threatening. Back then, we would have formed a line with them against any suggestion that they wore hi viz jackets with a label on the back.
The head of Probation Administration (these were powerful people in those days) used to complain that the CS staff were indistinguishable from our clients. I always rather liked that. We identified so much more with them than him. We were alive to the reality that our clients had been failed by the system, had failed the system, and needed us - albeit agents of the system - to try and reconcile this.
Pearly Gates
https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/conservatives/2021/11/want-to-know-who-the-real-metropolitan-elite-are-look-at-the-tory-sleaze-row
ReplyDelete“There is no way I could be an MP without my outside interests,” a backbencher recently told the Financial Times’ Sebastian Payne. “I’ve got kids and need the money for childcare.”
A certain type of right-winger is genuinely capable of believing that £82,000 isn’t enough for them to raise a family on, while also believing that £23,000 – the benefit cap for those who live in Greater London – is if anything an overly generous sum for someone else to do so. Why? Because they’re not the same.
They believe they’re better than us, worth more than us, not bound by the same rules as us – and they’re increasingly comfortable showing it. You really want to see the metropolitan elite in action? Go find a Tory MP.
https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/boris-johnson-to-water-down-promise-on-northern-powerhouse-rail-line-in-key-plan-this-week-1300248?ito=twitter_share_article-top
ReplyDeleteBoris Johnson is to water down a promise to fund a new high-speed rail link in the North of England by instead focusing on upgrades to existing lines.
Reuters: "I'm seeing the storm clouds gathering over parts of the European continent. And I've got to be absolutely frank with people: we've been here before. We remember what happens when the wave starts rolling in," Johnson said in a broadcast clip, referring to previous waves of infections. "I'm looking at what's happening overseas, and I'm simply saying to the British people... This is the moment to get your booster."
ReplyDeletehttps://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/cases-2019-ncov-eueea
Netherlands @ 12/11/2021
cases = 2,253,031
deaths = 18,663
France @ 12/11/2021
cases = 7,256,643
deaths = 118,073
Germany @ 12/11/2021
cases = 4,942,890
deaths = 97,389
Italy @ 12/11/2021
cases = 4,835,435
deaths = 132,618
Spain @ 11/11/2021
cases = 5,042,803
deaths = 87,647
Just so we are clear:
Do we really have to endure the govt's false narratives that the "wave is rolling in" or that infection rates are falling fast in the UK?
Really?
UK @ 12/11/2021
cases = 9,561,099 - higher than any EU country
deaths = 142,881 - higher than any EU country
We still have more than 1,000 deaths each week attributed to covid per the govt's measuring stick, and nearly 1,000 daily hospital admissions.
The daily hospitalisation figures have been increasing since May 2021, but have neither sharply increased nor significantly decreased since July 2021. We have had a steady but significant stream of seriously ill people for the last 5 months.
The [7-day average] number of deaths per day has also steadily increased since mid-May 2021, from ~7/day on 24 May to an interim high of 169/day on 31 October.
Govt data (their yardstick) indicates at least 13,350 people have died in the 5 months between 31 May & 31 October 2021 - that's an average of 2,670 deaths each month during the summer & autumn months.
Our PM doesn't wear a mask during a hospital visit.
Winter is coming... and its not coming from overseas.
I totally agree with the notion that "you need a Trap, unlikely characters confined to a particular space." it's a winning formula. It's the formula that made Porridge such a fantastic sitcom. Well that and Ronnie Barker too.
ReplyDeleteIt's also the same formula that worked so well for my all time favourite sitcom (and probably my mastermind specialist subject) Auf Wiedersehen Pet.
Yet there are others that apply the same winning formula, like Ricky Gervais in The Office that I can't grasp at all, and have found myself puzzled why others split their sides laughing at something said or done that seems to fly straight over my head.
In reality it's not that puzzling at all. I knew prison in the 1970s, so I saw many things hidden within the programme that were missed by those that hadn't experienced prison life. The same is true for Auf Wiedersehen Pet. I've worked on many building sites, and often had travel away, living in digs for a month at a time in that confined space with unlikely characters. I've not worked in many offices.
I think any sitcom or drama becomes almost three dimensional to those with knowledge of the subject matter, where as those that don't have the knowledge or experience only see the two dimensional series. I'm sure the same must be true for The Outlaws.
I'm pleased Pearly Gates recommendation expanded beyond just highlighting a sitcom that some may enjoy, and added some context to the concept of community service/community Payback, because I rather think that it's the bits tickle the three dimensional viewer and often missed by those that don't have the knowledge or experience in the subject matter that are the most important. Sadly, theres not enough reality of the criminal justice system shown to allow those not involved with it to make a contrast between sitcom and reality. I don't really consider what polititions say to win votes, or what tabloids print to sell papers much to do with reality.
The criminal justice system has gone wrong, and particularly probation. Instead of helping those in its charge to develop and grow out of offending, it reinforces the criminal identity. Sticking the same labels on just entrenches an identity, where as repackaging should be the order of the day in my opinion.
There's a third sector article I can't access in full from a couple of weeks ago that seems to concern itself with the conflict between community Payback and getting into bed with the government:-
"Theo Clay: What ‘high-vis chain gangs’ gets wrong about charities in the justice system
There is a danger that charities become seen as partners in the punishment agenda as opposed to the rehabilitation agenda".
I haven't yet seen The Outlaws, but I will watch it, and I'm sure I'll find it a really good watch.
'Getafix
The media is full of noise today about prisoners being made to wear sobriety tags for twelve months when they're released. It's aimed at reducing reoffending.
DeleteI don't know what others think about this, but I personally feel it's only likely to bring about a huge increase in recalls, and a lot of taxpayer monies being handed over to private companies.
There is however far less noise in the media about a published report on mental health and the criminal justice system, although the Independent does concern itself with it. The report quite damning towards all areas of the CJS.
I find it very dispairing that so many columns are being filled by the media on political gimmicks that may have unconsidered consequences on the justice system, rather then focusing on the realities of our broken system.
I guess people prefer theatre rather then reality.
https://www-independent-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/mental-illness-in-criminal-justice-system-failed-b1958984.html?amp_js_v=a6&_gsa=1&&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw%3D%3D#aoh=16371552713772&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.independent.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fuk%2Fmental-illness-in-criminal-justice-system-failed-b1958984.html
'Getafix
https://goodlawproject.org/news/conservative-politicians-vip-lane/
ReplyDeleteI sometimes ponder whether there is a missed opportunity here. A comedy (or tragedy) about working in a Probation Office. The Supervisor in Outlaws is well on her way to becoming an ACO.
ReplyDeleteTo throw this out there....get writing?! https://www.davecohen.org.uk/blogs/hat-trick-sitcom-script-competition/
ReplyDelete*** can't seem to post this to the most current page ***
ReplyDelete"Pitchfork was subject to more than 40 licence conditions"
No surprise then that he's been returned to prison.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-59354638
A Probation Service spokesperson said: "Protecting the public is our number one priority.
"When offenders breach the conditions of their release and potentially pose an increased risk, we don't hesitate to return them to custody."
...hostel staff had become concerned about some elements of his general behaviour and engagement with them.
They concluded he was not being as honest as he could be - although there was not one specific incident that triggered an alarm.
Pitchfork was subject to more than 40 licence conditions including living at a designated address, taking part in probation supervision, wearing an electronic tag, taking part in lie detector tests and having to disclose what vehicles he used and who he spoke to, with particular limits on contact with children.
He was also subject to a curfew, had restrictions on using technology and limits on where he went, and was banned from entering Leicestershire without the permission of officials.
I thought it was great to see a sex offender (Greg) being portrayed as a human being for once, rather than as a monster.
ReplyDelete