Grayling probation changes led to ‘expensive merry-go-round’, says report – The Guardian

‘Offenders have been locked in an “expensive merry-go-round” by a key plank of Chris Grayling’s disastrous probation overhaul, which has failed to reduce reoffending, a watchdog has said.’

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The Guardian, 21st May 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Probation will be renationalised after disastrous Grayling reforms – The Guardian

Posted May 16th, 2019 in contracting out, news, probation, recidivists, rehabilitation, statistics by sally

‘The supervision of all offenders in the community is to be undertaken by the state in a major renationalisation of the probation sector, just five years after Chris Grayling introduced a widely derided programme of privatisation while justice secretary.’

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The Guardian, 16th May 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

New prison anti-corruption taskforce unveiled – Ministry of Justice

‘A specialist taskforce to tackle staff corruption in jails has been announced by Justice Secretary David Gauke today (4 May 2019).’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 4th May 2019

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Grayling probation changes ‘took unacceptable risks’ with public money – The Guardian

‘Chris Grayling’s widely derided changes to the supervision of a quarter of a million offenders in the community were rushed through at breakneck speed, taking “unacceptable risks” with taxpayers’ money, a spending watchdog has said.’

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The Guardian, 3rd May 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Terror case delayed after judge criticises pre-sentence report – The Guardian

Posted April 15th, 2019 in delay, news, probation, reports, sentencing, terrorism, young offenders by michael

‘A judge has delayed sentencing a teenage student who was convicted of plotting a terror attack, because of “deep concerns” over a report prepared by an inexperienced probation worker.’

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The Guardian, 15th April 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Probation services: Part-privatised system ‘flawed’ – BBC News

Posted March 28th, 2019 in contracting out, news, probation by sally

‘The system which sees private firms monitor criminals serving community sentences is “irredeemably flawed”, the chief inspector of probation has said.’

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BBC News, 28th March 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘In probation, we’re poorly paid and the caseloads are unmanageable’ – The Guardian

‘Chris Grayling’s 2013 reforms have cost more, yet failed to cut reoffending or reduce staff shortages.’

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The Guardian, 13th March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Dangerous’ part-privatisation of probation services costing taxpayers extra £467m, watchdog finds – The Independent

‘The number of criminals being sent back to prison for violating licence conditions has skyrocketed since the government’s “dangerous” part-privatisation of probation services, a watchdog has found.’

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The Independent, 1st March 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

More than 200 criminals supervised by private probation firms charged with murder since 2014 – The Independent

Posted February 28th, 2019 in contracting out, murder, news, probation, statistics by tracey

‘Some 225 convicted criminals being supervised by private firms have been charged with murder since the probation service was overhauled in 2014, official figures show.’

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The Independent, 27th February 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Abolishing short prison sentences will let ‘thousands of hardened criminals avoid jail’, report claims – The Independent

‘Ministers’ calls for short prison sentences to be abolished would see thousands of hardened criminals avoid jail, a report has claimed.’

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The Independent, 25th February 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Private probation firms in Wales and south west in administration – BBC News

Posted February 18th, 2019 in contracting out, insolvency, news, probation by sally

‘Private firms which manage thousands of offenders in Wales and south west England have gone into administration.’

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BBC News, 15th February 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Kathleen Griffin death: Torture killer ‘could have been stopped’ – BBC News

‘A woman was tortured and killed by a man who authorities should have stopped from living with her, a report said.’

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BBC News, 7th February 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lord McNally: ‘We had to cut legal aid. It’s not a bottomless pit’ – The Guardian

Posted January 30th, 2019 in budgets, human rights, legal aid, legal services, news, probation by sally

‘The Lib-Dem peer says coalition cuts were necessary but have gone too far – people must be able to access justice.’

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The Guardian, 30th January 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Sex offenders put up in hotels as no space in bail hostels, says report – The Guardian

Posted January 24th, 2019 in bail, hotels, news, ombudsmen, prisons, probation, sexual offences, statistics by tracey

‘Sex offenders are being put up in high-street budget hotels without the knowledge of the proprietors or guests because spaces in closely monitored bail hostels are unavailable, inspectors have discovered.’

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The Guardian, 24th January 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Number of offenders recalled to prison surges following ‘disastrous’ probation reforms – The Independent

Posted January 18th, 2019 in bail, news, prisons, probation, rehabilitation, statistics, women by tracey

‘Ministers have been accused of pushing through “disastrous” probation reforms as it emerged the number of offenders recalled to prison for breaching bail conditions has surged by more than a quarter in four years.’

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The Independent, 17th January 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Grayling under fire as serious crimes committed on parole soar by 50% – The Guardian

‘The number of rapes, murders and other serious crimes committed by offenders on parole has risen by more than 50% since reforms to probation were introduced four years ago, according to official data that has triggered calls for the government to rethink its plans for another shake-up of the service.’

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The Guardian, 12th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Prison sentences: Charities and probation staff union welcome proposals – BBC News

Posted January 14th, 2019 in charities, news, prisons, probation, recidivists, sentencing, statistics by tracey

‘Ministers are being warned that a proposal to scrap prison sentences of six months or less will only work if there is more investment in the probation services. The government says this approach in England and Wales’ prisons could reduce overcrowding and re-offending.’

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BBC News, 12th January 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MoJ sets minimum standards to improve probation performance – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 12th, 2018 in contracting out, news, probation, standards by tracey

‘The government expects probation providers to offer monthly face-to-face meetings with offenders during the first year of supervision, the lord chancellor has told MPs concerned about the government’s approach to rehabilitation.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 9th November 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Number of supervised offenders charged with violent crimes rises 21% – The Guardian

‘The number of offenders charged with serious crimes including murder, manslaughter and rape while they were being monitored in the community has jumped by more than a fifth in a year in England and Wales, the Guardian can reveal.’

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The Guardian, 14th October 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Private probation firms ‘put victims of abuse at risk’ – The Guardian

Posted September 25th, 2018 in contracting out, domestic violence, news, probation, rehabilitation, victims by sally

‘Tens of thousands of victims of domestic abuse and children are being put at further risk of harm by privatised offender supervision companies whose staff lack the skills, experience and time to supervise perpetrators, according to a new report.’

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The Guardian, 25th September 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com