October 20, 2005: Privatising Probation: Napo's Response

Commenting today on the publication of the Home Office’s consultation paper on the Management of Offenders, Harry Fletcher, Assistant General Secretary of probation union Napo said:

“It is now abundantly clear that the Government intends to push ahead with the privatisation of the Probation Service. This agenda was apparent last week in leaked correspondence between the Home Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister. It is extraordinary that these proposals are being pursued when no business case has been published to justify either the creation of the National Offender Management Service or of the introduction of privatisation. In Napo’s view fragmentation and privatisation will drive down standards, cut wages and lead to less cooperation, not more, between criminal justice agencies. Probation is not a business but a viable public service”.

“It is astonishing that these plans are being pursued when the Probation Service is performing at record levels. The Home Office itself has praised the service’s contribution and progress over the last two years. It is frightening to think that private companies may in the future be providing reports for the courts, knowing that they have a vested interest in boosting jail numbers in the prisons that they own. Napo will be resisting these proposals. Privatisation will wreck the Probation Service and lead to a marked deterioration in standards of supervision and a greater risk to the community. Napo will be organising the lobbying of MPs in the coming weeks and will not rule out industrial action if the Government insists on proceeding down the market forces road.”