Probation union launches legal challenge over government reforms – BBC News

Posted October 30th, 2014 in contracting out, news, probation, trade unions by sally

‘A legal challenge to government plans to privatise some probation services in England and Wales has been launched by the probation officers’ union Napo.’

Full story

BBC News, 30th October 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Q&A: Probation reforms explained – BBC News

Posted October 30th, 2014 in charities, contracting out, news, probation, rehabilitation by sally

‘In June the government put into force plans to change the way the probation service runs, and forged ahead with proposals to privatise parts of it. But why are some people unhappy about this?’

Full story

BBC News, 29th October 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Six out of 10 prisoners freed from short jail sentences re-offend within a year – Daily Telegraph

‘More than 17,000 prisoners released into the community after serving short jail terms went on to commit new crimes last year, official figures have shown.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 24th October 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Is poor supervision for killers like Harry Street putting the public at risk? – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 8th, 2014 in homicide, mental health, murder, news, probation, rape by sally

‘Killers released under the Mental Health Act need better supervision to prevent them reoffending, campaigners warn.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph,

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Calls for law to be changed after Broadmoor killer Barry Williams is released without supervision – Daily Telegraph

‘A serious case review is launched after mass killer Barry Williams is able to disappear following his release from Broadmoor by changing his name to Harry Street.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 6th October 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Lie detector tests introduced to monitor released sex offenders – The Guardian

‘Lie detector tests monitoring the behaviour of released sex offenders across England and Wales have begun this week, amid calls for the technology to be used more widely in police investigations.’

Full story

The Guardian, 8th August 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Probation service in chaos as systems wipe offenders’ data – The Independent

‘Britain’s probation service is in chaos after a series of crippling computer failures over the past three weeks, with thousands of offenders’ case files lost, frozen or wiped.’

Full story

The Independent, 22nd June 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Solicitors and probation workers to strike over plans – BBC News

‘Solicitors and probation officers in England and Wales are staging joint action against changes introduced by the Ministry of Justice.’

Full story

BBC News, 31st March 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Criminal solicitors to walk out for third time over legal aid cuts – The Guardian

Posted March 21st, 2014 in budgets, criminal justice, industrial action, legal aid, news, probation, solicitors by sally

“Criminal solicitors across England and Wales are to stage a two-day walkout at the end of the month to coincide with a strike by probation workers.”

Full story

The Guardian, 20th March 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Grayling rules out privatised courts – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 12th, 2014 in contracting out, costs, courts, fees, news, probation by tracey

‘Privatising the courts service is not on the government’s agenda, Chris Grayling, the justice secretary, told a free-market thinktank today.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 11th March 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

G4S may still face criminal proceedings over tagging scandal – justice secretary – The Guardian

‘G4S, the troubled giant private security company, still faces the possibility of criminal proceedings over its alleged overcharging of at least £24m on electronic tagging and prisoner escort contracts, the justice secretary, Chris Grayling, has said. His reminder comes as G4S makes a concerted attempt to have the current ban on bidding for fresh government contracts lifted.’

Full story

The Guardian, 11th March 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Hundreds of probation officers appeal against new jobs – BBC News

Posted February 18th, 2014 in appeals, contracting out, news, probation, trade unions by sally

‘Hundreds of probation officers have appealed against the jobs assigned to them under a new system due to contract out most probation work from next year.’

Full story

BBC News, 18th February 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Trade unions challenge coalition sell-off of Britain’s probation service – The Guardian

Posted February 11th, 2014 in contracting out, international law, news, probation, trade unions by tracey

‘Government plans to privatise the probation service amount to a breach of the international laws on forced labour, according to a union legal challenge that is being launched on Monday.’

Full story

The Guardian, 10th February 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Number of sex offenders in England and Wales rises by more than third in five years – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 10th, 2014 in budgets, news, probation, rehabilitation, sexual offences, statistics by tracey

‘The number of registered sex offenders in England and Wales has risen by more than a third in the past five years. More than 40,000 registered sex offenders, including 2,700 judged to pose a serious risk to the public, are living in the community and being monitored by probation services.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 9th February 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Offenders with learning disabilities ‘not supported’ – BBC News

Posted January 30th, 2014 in Crown Prosecution Service, learning difficulties, news, police, probation, reports by sally

‘Offenders with learning disabilities are not getting the support they need from police, probation and prosecution services, an inspection has found.’

Full story

BBC News, 30th January 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Justice secretary puts back probation service privatisation deadline – The Guardian

Posted January 21st, 2014 in contracting out, delay, news, probation by sally

‘The justice secretary, Chris Grayling, has announced a two-month delay in the timetable for privatising 70% of the probation service after his most senior officials advised there would be public safety issues if he pressed full steam ahead.’

Full story

The Guardian, 20th January 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Supervision of high-risk criminals will not be handed to private sector – The Guardian

Posted January 14th, 2014 in contracting out, news, probation by tracey

‘The supervision of high-risk criminals who have committed notorious offences that have attracted significant and prolonged media attention will not be handed to the private sector when 70% of the probation service is outsourced this year.’

Full story

The Guardian, 13th January 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Penal reform in the UK – OUP Blog

Posted January 6th, 2014 in news, probation by sally

‘In this podcast Martin Partington talks to Frances Crook, Chief Executive of the Howard League. Does penal policy in the UK operate in a more ‘punitive’ way than other European countries (including the former Eastern-bloc)? Frances makes a passionate defence of the current probation service and deplores the current Government’s approach to reform of the service.’

Podcast

OUP Blog, 1st January 2014

Source: http://blog.oup.com

Prisons: Efforts to cut reoffending ‘not working’ – BBC News

Posted December 17th, 2013 in news, prisons, probation, recidivists, rehabilitation, reports by sally

‘Efforts to stop prisoners reoffending are “not working” and should be the subject of a major policy review, two senior inspectors have said.’

Full story

BBC News, 17th December 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lie tests to be given to sex offenders – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 21st, 2013 in bail, lie detectors, news, police, probation, sexual offences by sally

“Sex offenders will be offered lie detector tests to help police assess the risk they pose to the public when released.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 20th November 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk