Increase in serious crimes by offenders on probation, figures show – The Guardian

‘There has been an increase in serious crimes committed by offenders under supervision in the community since the controversial privatisation of the probation service, figures suggest. The number of offenders on probation charged with murder, manslaughter, rape and other serious violent or sexual crimes has risen by more than 25% since changes to the service in England and Wales.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 2nd August 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Probation reform: open letter from the Secretary of State for Justice – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 20th, 2017 in Ministry of Justice, news, press releases, probation, recidivists by tracey

‘Justice Secretary David Lidington provides an update on the probation system.’

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Ministry of Justice, 19th July 2017

Source: www.gov.uk

Privatised probation programme ‘could be dropped with negligible impact’ – The Guardian

‘A key part of the government’s probation privatisation reforms could be dropped tomorrow without any impact on the resettlement of prisoners, a joint report by the chief inspectors of probation and prisons has warned.’

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The Guardian, 21st June 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Regina (ZX) v Secretary of State for Justice – WLR Daily

Posted June 7th, 2017 in children, families, law reports, probation, release on licence by sally

Regina (ZX) v Secretary of State for Justice [2017] EWCA Civ 155

‘The claimant, a married British citizen of Bangladeshi origin with three children, was convicted on his guilty plea of two terrorism related offences and sentenced in the Crown Court to a term of three years’ imprisonment. Following his release on licence, conditions were imposed on his licence precluding him, inter alia, from having contact with his children save as directed by the National Probation Service (“the NPS”) and local children’s services. He sought to challenge the imposition of those conditions on the basis that the NPS had no lawful entitlement to give a direction separating him from his children, that there was no properly identified risk and that no separation could properly be directed without due compliance with the provisions of the Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004 and, if need be, without an order of the Family Court. Permission to proceed with the claim for judicial review was refused on the basis that the grounds raised were not arguable. The claimant appealed on the grounds, inter alia, that the judge had misdirected himself as to the scope and effect of the NPS’s duties under section 11 of the 2004 Act (to make arrangements for ensuring that its functions were discharged having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children).’

WLR Daily, 17th March 2017

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Willpower & determination – New Law Journal

‘Paola Fudakowska & Henrietta Mason provide a wills & probate update.’

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New Law Journal, 19th May 2017

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

£40,000 worth of drugs discovered at ‘unsafe’ Lancashire prison – The Guardian

‘More than 80 prisoners in fear of their safety have sought sanctuary in a special unit in a Lancashire jail inspectors say is the most violent they have visited in recent times.’

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The Guardian, 19th April 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Private companies could pull out of probation contracts over costs – The Guardian

‘Two of the private companies that provide 50% of probation services in England and Wales have confirmed to MPs they will have to consider quitting if a Ministry of Justice review fails to deliver improvements.’

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The Guardian, 21st March 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Justice Secretary launches new prison and probation service to reform offenders – Home Office

Posted February 10th, 2017 in press releases, prisons, probation, rehabilitation by tracey

‘A new frontline service focused on reforming offenders and cutting crime will launch in April 2017, Justice Secretary Elizabeth Truss announced today.’

Full press release

Home Office, 8th February 2017

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

Privatisation of probation service has left public at greater risk – report – The Guardian

Posted December 15th, 2016 in contracting out, criminal justice, news, probation, reports by tracey

‘The public have been left more at risk by the privatisation of the probation service with some offenders not seen for weeks or months and others lost in the system altogether, according to an official watchdog.’

Full story

The Guardian, 15th December 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Liz Truss calls for rapid completion of probation privatisation review – The Guardian

Posted December 7th, 2016 in contracting out, news, probation by tracey

‘The justice secretary, Liz Truss, has ordered the rapid completion of an official review into the failing performance of the government’s privatisation of the probation service.’

Full story

The Guardian, 6th December 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

As many as 10 sex offenders released into the community every day, new figures reveal – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 28th, 2016 in news, prisons, probation, sexual offences, statistics by sally

‘As many as 10 sex offenders are released into the community everyday, according to new figures.’

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Daily Telegraph, 27th October 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Prisoner resettlement scheme raises concerns – BBC News

Posted October 4th, 2016 in employment, housing, news, prisons, probation, recidivists by sally

‘A flagship government policy to support and supervise inmates leaving jail has been severely criticised by inspectors.’

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BBC News, 4th October 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Probation reforms far from complete, warn MPs – BBC News

Posted September 23rd, 2016 in news, probation, rehabilitation, select committees by sally

‘The government’s promised “rehabilitation revolution” in England and Wales is “far from complete”, an influential committee of MPs has said.’

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BBC News, 23rd September 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Housing shortage means many women ‘feel safer behind bars’ – BBC News

Posted September 22nd, 2016 in housing, landlord & tenant, news, prisons, probation, release on licence, reports, women by sally

‘A former inmate has told the BBC many women feel “safer in prison” due to a lack of suitable housing for female ex-offenders.’

Full story

BBC News, 22nd September 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Parole Board chief urges indefinite jail release change – BBC News

Posted July 26th, 2016 in news, probation, release on licence, sentencing by sally

‘Prisoners held indefinitely after serving their minimum term or tariff should not have to prove it is “safe” to release them, new Parole Board chairman Nick Hardwick has said.’

Full story

26th July 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ken Clarke: Change rules on ‘public danger’ prisoners – BBC News

Posted May 31st, 2016 in dangerous offenders, news, parole, prisons, probation, rehabilitation, sentencing by tracey

‘Former justice secretary Ken Clarke says parole boards should have more power to free criminals jailed because they were a danger to the public. He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme it was “absurd” to keep prisoners in jail beyond their original terms.’

Full story

BBC News, 30th May 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Response to Ministry of Justice consultation: Proposals to reform fees for grants of probate – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted May 26th, 2016 in consultations, fees, judiciary, news, probation by tracey

‘Response to MoJ Consultation by Sir James Munby: Proposals to Reform Fees for Grants of Probate.’

Full text

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 24th May 2016

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Staff ‘told not to take action against probation breaches’ – BBC News

Posted May 26th, 2016 in enforcement, news, probation, rehabilitation, reports by tracey

‘Probation officers are being told not to take action against offenders who breach sentence terms, because their companies risk being fined, a watchdog in England and Wales has said.’

Full story

BBC News, 26th May 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Watchdog savages Government’s ‘disastrous’ privatisation of probation services – The Independent

Posted May 3rd, 2016 in contracting out, criminal justice, news, probation, reports by tracey

‘Serious failings in the Government’s privatisation of the probation services have been exposed in a damning report amid warnings that David Cameron’s “half-baked and reckless” policies have left the criminal justice system in a mess.’

Full story

The Independent, 2nd May 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Too many offenders let off probation, inspectors say – BBC News

Posted January 12th, 2016 in community service, news, probation, reports, sentencing by sally

‘The way that offenders sentenced to unpaid community work in England and Wales are managed and supervised has been criticised by inspectors.’

Full story

BBC News, 12th January 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk