I think the following two contributions sum the situation up neatly:-
https://www.gov.uk/government/people/alex-norris
Minister of State (Minister for Border Security and Asylum) and Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice - Alex Norris MP
Biography
Alex Norris was appointed Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice on 20 July 2026. He was previously Minister of State at the Home Office between 6 September 2025 and July 20 2026.
He was previously Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government between 9 July 2024 and 6 September 2025.
He has been the MP for Nottingham North and Kimberley (and its predecessor Nottingham North) since June 2017.
Minister of State (Minister for Border Security and Asylum) - The Minister’s responsibilities are:
Border Security Command: reducing small boat arrivals and organised immigration crime
reducing the asylum caseload, exiting hotels and reducing the supported population
Immigration Enforcement: Increasing returns (including FNOs), immigration detention estate expansion, illegal working
asylum, illegal migration and returns policy, safe and legal policy and refugee resettlement policy
reducing net migration: legal migration policy
tackling visa abuse
innovative solutions
Immigration White Paper implementation
European Entry Exit System
modern slavery policy as it relates to immigration status
Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
Oversight of all justice portfolios, policy, and Ministry of Justice strategy
Oversight of cross-cutting emergency issues, responses supported by other ministers according to portfolio
Oversight of international business and future relations with the EU
MOJ support for the Union
Resourcing of the department
Functions of the Lord Chancellor
Judicial policy including pay, pensions and diversity (these and other operational decisions affecting the judiciary are reserved to the Lord Chancellor)
--oo00oo--
I’m not going to write Alex Norris off before he’s even started. Every minister deserves the chance to prove themselves. But I do wonder how anyone without a substantial justice background can fully appreciate the scale of what they’re inheriting. Probation isn’t something you understand from a briefing paper. It sits at the intersection of housing, mental health, addiction, domestic abuse, children’s services, employment, policing, prisons and the courts. It is where the consequences of policy decisions made across government all arrive at once.
Andy Burnham has rightly spoken about ending rough sleeping. That’s an admirable ambition. But this is where I think governments often miss something fundamental.
They talk about the “golden thread” running through assessments. What probation sees every day is the golden thread running through society.
Housing affects employment.
Employment affects offending.
Mental health affects addiction.
Addiction affects family stability.
Family breakdown affects children.
Children become tomorrow’s adults entering the criminal justice system. None of these things exists in isolation, yet government too often organises itself as if they do.
Probation doesn’t have the luxury of seeing only one department’s problem. We deal with the whole person and the cumulative effect of every public service that has either succeeded or failed them. So I genuinely hope the new Justice Secretary spends less time asking, “What does justice need?” and more time asking, “How does justice fit into everything else?”
I’m not going to write Alex Norris off before he’s even started. Every minister deserves the chance to prove themselves. But I do wonder how anyone without a substantial justice background can fully appreciate the scale of what they’re inheriting. Probation isn’t something you understand from a briefing paper. It sits at the intersection of housing, mental health, addiction, domestic abuse, children’s services, employment, policing, prisons and the courts. It is where the consequences of policy decisions made across government all arrive at once.
Andy Burnham has rightly spoken about ending rough sleeping. That’s an admirable ambition. But this is where I think governments often miss something fundamental.
They talk about the “golden thread” running through assessments. What probation sees every day is the golden thread running through society.
Housing affects employment.
Employment affects offending.
Mental health affects addiction.
Addiction affects family stability.
Family breakdown affects children.
Children become tomorrow’s adults entering the criminal justice system. None of these things exists in isolation, yet government too often organises itself as if they do.
Probation doesn’t have the luxury of seeing only one department’s problem. We deal with the whole person and the cumulative effect of every public service that has either succeeded or failed them. So I genuinely hope the new Justice Secretary spends less time asking, “What does justice need?” and more time asking, “How does justice fit into everything else?”
Because until government starts seeing the same golden thread that frontline probation staff see every day, we’ll keep treating symptoms while wondering why the causes never seem to go away.
The government could do much worse than pick a random probation officer to serve in government, strictly not from management. The danger of that being they might actually acheive something which I don't think is the aim.
ReplyDeletesox
I want to republish this contribution from the previous blog post because it makes a very telling point:-
ReplyDelete"Lovely analysis. Remember when we spoke openly about the 'pathways' to rehabilitation and desistence? I'm now in voluntary service and have been consistently appalled by the way in which ALL the statutory agencies have withdrawn from public access. All the above agencies now seem to make it their business to do the bare minimum, rely upon folk giving up from accessing service and making deliberately wrong decisions to throw even persistent applicants off applying. Clearly this is a result of austerity but has now become the cultural norm. If we could return to the thinking of Total Place & adopt a strategy that integrated criminal justice into all public services I would be pleased. Ending rough sleeping would at least be a start, especially for the poor saps discharged from prison with a tent!"
That contribution really resonated with me because it identifies something probation sees every day but rarely gets discussed.
DeleteProbation hasn’t become harder simply because probation has changed. It’s become harder because so many other public services have become harder to access.
Housing waiting lists have grown.
Mental health services are stretched.
Drug and alcohol services have reduced capacity.
Children’s services are under pressure.
Adult social care struggles to meet demand.
Employment support has become increasingly conditional.
Each individual service has understandable reasons. Limited budgets. Rising demand. Staff shortages. But what happens is that the unmet need doesn’t disappear. It accumulates.
And eventually it lands on a probation officer’s desk.
That’s why I keep coming back to the “golden thread”. We don’t just supervise offending. We see the cumulative consequences of failures across multiple public services.
When people ask why probation feels so much harder than it did 15 or 20 years ago, perhaps that’s part of the answer. We aren’t just managing more risk. We’re managing more unmet need.
Until government starts seeing justice as something that runs through housing, health, education, employment and social care, not alongside them, we’ll continue dealing with the consequences rather than preventing the causes.
I posted this last week,
ReplyDeleteAnonymous17 July 2026 at 13:09
Just watched Andy Burnham deliver his leadership speech.
It was interesting to see who he paid homage to.
Neil Kinnock who expelled socialist activists from the party in the hope of bolstering his election aspirations and whose son was amongst the first to turn on Jeremy Corbyn when he became party leader.
David Blunkett, right wing architect of the IPP sentence and possibly the worst Home Secretary in my years in the probation service and The Right Honourable Margaret Beckett another time server resistant to progressive politics.
It seems that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
I would now add that Kinnock Jnr. And Angela Eagle who claim loyalty to the party but who both tried to unseat Corbyn early doors (Ms. Eagle eventually made a grovelling tearful retraction in order to avoid being de-selected by her CLP)have now been rewarded with promotions to cabinet.
Watch your back Andy. Keep your enemies close and your friends closer still.
"The creation of a new Office for the Prime Minister and the Cabinet has been announced, with cabinet secretary Dame Antonia Romeo tasked with leading it... the new OPMC will oversee a new OneGov Delivery Agency which will manage operational services at arm’s length, including the Government Recruitment Service, pensions, shared services strategy, and security vetting."
ReplyDeleteGod help us all.
"Further changes will see the Cabinet Office take the lead on AI adoption across the civil service, with responsibility for AI strategy, public sector AI adoption and the AI Security Institute all moving to the department."
* That will sit veerry nicely with la romeo, what with her being super chummy with Louis Mosley (Oswald's grandson) & Palantir:
https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-trade-department-courted-us-firm-palantir-over-untapped-nhs-data-potential/
& also skynews:
"In April 2019, Dame Antonia Romeo (then Permanent Secretary at the DIT) met with Palantir's UK head, Louis Mosley, at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The objective of the meeting was to encourage Palantir to expand its software business in the UK, with Romeo’s department offering government assistance to help the firm with visa planning, recruitment, and finding real estate... During subsequent follow-up meetings at her London office, Romeo and her officials actively briefed Palantir on the potential of the NHS"
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9d8p0l29pxo
"Civil servants working for government departments based in London have been offered relocation packages to encourage them to move to the North of England, the BBC understands.
It comes as the first details are emerging about the new No 10 North, which Downing Street says is already up and running."
* Meanwhile. la romeo is quick to secure her preferred lieutenants across the departments:
https://www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/article/civil-service-success-profiles-to-be-scrapped
"Reforms including scrapping success profiles, cross-cutting capability reviews and a rapid review of the Fast Stream have been unveiled.
The reforms are detailed on a website outlining plans for the Future Civil Service, a programme cabinet secretary Dame Antonia Romeo has launched to build a civil service that is “famous” for excellence in delivering for ministers and the public; use of tech and AI; and being “trusted by the people we serve”."
* Her fast stream scheme leaves greater scope for nepotism & loading of strategic bases.
UKplc has been stitched up like a kipper, trump-style.
https://www.civilservant.org.uk/misc-history.html
"The Northcote Trevelyan reforms had been a reaction to widespread, nepotism, corruption and inefficiency."
Let’s give the man a chance. He can’t be worse than some of the people we’ve had over the last decade — Lammy, Mahmood, Raab, Truss, Gove, Grayling… do we need to go on?!
ReplyDeleteI was interested to read that before entering Parliament he worked for UNISON as an Area Organiser. That experience of representing workers and understanding public services can only be a positive.
Let’s give him some bedtime reading and fingers crossed we don’t see a return to the usual ideas of privatisation, “tough on crime” rhetoric, or the answer to everything being more tagging.
Probation Quarterly
https://www.probation-institute.org/probation-quarterly
While its possible there might be some improvement, he can be as bad - or worse - than previous incumbents.
Deleteburnham has denied there's a genocide in Gaza, is very pro-netanyahu, was very pro-bliar, then pro-brown, then pro-corbyn... history suggests he's just another ambitious shapeshifter. I'm yet to be convinced of the man who keeps mahmood as home sec, gives streeting defence & norris justice.
I never wanted to be a civil servant. I just wanted to be a Probation Officer. I wanted to help people. I wanted to be kind, thoughtful and compassionate. I wanted to keep people out of prison. I can’t do that anymore so I’m leaving. No idea what to. Just not this. Adieu and good luck.
ReplyDeleteAnon 02:10 This is always very sad to hear, but understandable. I wonder if you feel able to flesh out in a bit more detail the journey you've been on to arrive at this sad decision?
Deletehttps://www.facebook.com/share/v/1SSS4maJwh/
ReplyDeleteSeen on LinkedIn
ReplyDeleteShould Probation staff be Civil Servants?
Probation practitioner's are entrusted with managing risk, protecting the public, and helping people rebuild their lives.
But should we have the ability to openly challenge and scrutinise the national direction of travel? ðŸ’
The Civil Service Code requires us to demonstrate integrity, honesty, objectivity and political impartiality. Those principles matter. Nobody is suggesting probation staff should disclose confidential information, engage in party-political attacks or undermine the government of the day
However, being civil servants also places significant limits on how openly we can discuss the policies we are responsible for delivering.
When major reforms are introduced, the people who understand their practical consequences best are often unable to speak candidly in public.
Would probation professionals have challenged the decisions made during Chris Grayling’s reforms more openly if allowed?
Certainly
Do I have a lot to say about the Sentencing Review?
Yes
Would greater transparency help the public understand the pressures facing probation?
Absolutely
The question is not whether probation should abandon impartiality or professionalism
The question is whether probation should become a distinct public service, governed by its own robust professional code - with greater independence to challenge policy, explain operational reality and advocate for evidence-led practice.
Silence does not always protect public confidence.
In my view, informed and open, constructive challenge strengthens it
Another question for our new justice minister.
DeleteCivil servants when it suits their needs !!
DeleteThe problem is that there will be no answers. The govt needs someone to blame for their serious errors in judgement and probation fit the bill nicely. Let’s release prisoners early, there are limited AP beds and housing providers and councils do not give ex-prisoners priority. After a couple of days living rough, not been able to get benefits sorted and with no money the recalls start happening. Who you going to blame the NPS! It is a cycle that all of us with years in recognise well. However, not only does the focus fall on the NPS but specifically POs, not those in charge who should be pushing for resources or answering the questions why such system is failure. When a prisoner is already focusing on how they can get back into prison before they are released is a sad indictment on the state who keep pushing the rhetoric of education, employment family ties and accommodation prevents re-offending but don’t deliver the resources no matter the colour of the party then it is doomed to fail once again. I won’t get into the debate of how the unions are all signing up for the new models of delivery without any input from those that will be delivering them. Everything appears to be done in retrospect NPS playing catch up with no time to breathe, how many times do I receive emails from colleagues sent on a Sunday evening when I log on on Monday morning, they are fearful of failure and their SPO initiating competency measures, not a great life balance and the employer cannot even deliver pay packages on time.
DeleteFor what it's worth, in 1988 13 years after qualifying as a probation officer, despite being an active Napo member, I felt abused by my probation management and resigned by giving the required period of notice minutes after I made the decision that for my sanity I must leave my existing position. I had the backing of my wife and knew there were many vacancies nearby as a qualified social worker (I had a CQSW). Getting a locum position was not as a quick as I anticipated, so the day after my resignation day, having a mortgage to keep paying and family to feed, via a local employment agency, I signed on as a temporary driver (vehicles up to 7.5 tons and kept some money coming in until via a social work specialist emp agency got a temp SW job. When that came to an end I went temp for a different Probation Service, that job became permanent and lasted 14 years to retirement. My qualifications and experience meant there were numbers of jobs for which I was suited. Going back to probation was a choice other possibilities were available.
ReplyDeleteI wish you well and hope it is not essential for your well being that you need to act with great haste.
08:37, like you, I was CQSW qualified (1992, the last cohort I believe) and although I never worked as a social worker staying in probation until I retired, it was good to know that I had a qualification which gave me options.
ReplyDeleteTherein lies a difference. The current qualification is probation specific and in all probability is one of the many reasons behind the demise in pay.
On the other hand, I have numerous friends and family members who work in the civil service and none of them report being treated in the manner the probation service treats its employees.
If the current qualification is relatively useless, it can still be useful as a springboard to other careers as it acts like a passport to other civil service departments and means that much of the pre- employment vetting can be waived if applying for a sideways move.
Lengthy read, but interesting stuff.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.catch-22.org.uk/resources/age-and-justice-the-treatment-of-younger-v-older-defendants-in-the-prison-and-probation-system/
'Getafix
https://www.aol.co.uk/articles/poll-uk-build-more-prisons-081700000.html
ReplyDeleteLet’s reduce the amount of paperwork and duplication of work they said! I Temporary guidance for OMiC and SDS cases from September, the POM to COM information sheet, is just a cut and paste, all info from OASys, who lets these buffoons be project managers! Whilst I am at it who came up with term POM and COM it does not indicate whether you have a qualified or unqualified supervisor.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0ejwedl1gno
ReplyDeletePrime Minister Andy Burnham earlier said he would review the Sentencing Act policy that from September would see thousands of offenders in England and Wales eligible to be released earlier.
Speaking on Wednesday, Burnham said: "I can't say that I can change the policy completely, but I will look at it in detail before we go further forward."
Times: "Andy Burnham pauses prisoner early release scheme"
ReplyDeletewankers-r-us aka burnham's cabinet:
ReplyDelete"Wes Streeting has apologised for making a joke about the early release of prisoners.
The new Defence Secretary made the remarks on Tuesday in a conversation with Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, and Alex Norris, the new Justice Secretary, which was picked up by a microphone "
https://www.facebook.com/TELEGRAPH.CO.UK/videos/wes-streeting-has-apologised-for-making-a-joke-about-the-early-release-of-prison/1008201128491625/
They don't give a crap about anything but their own egos & wealth potential.
Guardian: "Prime Minister Andy Burnham has ordered an urgent review of the government's early release scheme following a major backlash over plans to free individuals convicted of manslaughter in the PC Andrew Harper case. ***Prison bosses have been instructed to pause the upcoming September releases while officials evaluate the policy.***"
ReplyDeletePresumably that will be the same hmpps officials that fast-tracked the policy.
https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/independent-review-of-the-prison-system-in-england-and-wales
ReplyDeleteSummary
This Call for Evidence exercise is intended to gather evidence to support the work of the Independent Review of the Prison System.
This call for evidence is being held on another website [see below]
This call for evidence closes at
11:59pm on 31 August 2026
https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/review-of-the-prison-system/
Hidden away in a dark corner of .gov.uk:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/independent-statutory-regulation-of-probation-practitioners
Summary - This consultation explores options to introduce independent regulation of probation practitioners.
This consultation is being held on another website. [see below]
This consultation closes at
11:59pm on 8 October 2026
Consultation description - The consultation sets out the policy rationale and objectives for introducing independent statutory regulation for probation practitioners. It builds on the HMPPS internal professional register, to bring transparency and external accountability, and broaden its scope to include individuals working in roles requiring the probation officer qualification, no matter where they are employed. Introducing regulation would place probation practitioners in England and Wales on an equal footing with those in other UK jurisdictions, as well as other similar professions such as social work.
Specifically, the consultation explores and seeks feedback on the classification type of a potential regulator including the feasibility and appropriateness of joining an existing regulator or accrediting body, or a specialist arm’s length body. It also asks views on the potential model, functions and scope including:
the minimum requirements, frequency and mechanism for maintaining registration,
ensuring ongoing professional competence and development,
setting of professional standards and code of ethics to promote a strong common professional identity,
fitness to practice processes and referrals, and
the potential to confer a protected title.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a54f0afc3d64d94cacab88a/Consultation_on_the_Independent_Statutory_Regulation_of_Probation_Practitioners__web__8_.pdf
https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/independent-statutory-regulation-of-probation-prac/
an impossible job
ReplyDeletehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq56g2n083do
Natalie Fleet says she has stepped down as safeguarding minister after finding the role "overwhelmingly triggering", telling the BBC that it was making her ill.
She told BBC News the nature of the role as safeguarding minister means "you hear the worst of humanity", saying: "I understand what it is like not to be seen and not to be heard."
"I know how important this job is and I know how much it needs a good and competent minister. It quickly became apparent how ill it was making me."