Gwent-Glamorgan

COLLEAGUES, I HAVE AGAIN BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK AT THIS CONFERENCE IN MY ROLE AS ONE OF THE NAPO REPS.

I AGAIN HOPE MY MESSAGE IS OF RELEVENCE TO THOSE IN UNISON AS WELL AS THOSE WHO CHOOSE NOT TO BE A MEMBER OF A UNION.

LAST YEAR WHEN I SPOKE AT THE STAFF CONFERENCE IT WAS IN A CLIMATE OF UNCERTANTY AND CHANGE. I SPOKE ABOUT UNION MEMBERSHIP, ABOUT PROPER CONSULTATION AND ABOUT CHANGE AND LOOKING POSITIVELY AT THE CHALLENGES AHEAD.

WELL HERE WE ARE AGAIN AND GUESS WHAT! WE ARE IN A CLIMATE OF EVEN MORE UNCERTANTY AND EVEN MORE CHANGE. SO NO CHANGE THERE THEN!

SO WHAT AM I GOING TO TALK ABOUT? FIRSTLY:

• I’LL TALK ABOUT ‘CONTESTABILITY’ UNDER THE NOMS PROPOSALS

• THEN I’LL EXPLAIN, WHY WE MUST DO SOMETHING AND WHAT WE CAN DO.

• THEN I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A MORE LOCAL ISSUE, UNION AND MANAGEMENT WORKING TOGETHER.

CONTESTABILITY

THE PUBLICATION OF THE NOMS CONSULTATION DOCUMENT MAKES IT IS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THE PROBATION SERVICE, AS WE KNOW IT IS UNDER THREAT. 2007 IS THE PROBATION SERVICES CENTENARY YEAR, WILL WE MAKE IT?

UNLIKE OUR CHIEF OFFICER I AM NOT SUBJECT TO A GAGGING ORDER PREVENTING THE STIFLING OF DEBATE, SO I CAN BE CRITICAL OF GOVERNMENT POLICY.

HAVING SAID THAT, LET’S DO AWAY WITH SPIN; CONTESTABILITY IS PRIVITISATION, PLAIN AND SIMPLE. THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVES THAT OPENING UP SERVICE PROVISION TO COMPETITION, WILL IMPROVE SERVICE FOR THE OFFENDER. I SAY FINE! PROVE IT LET ME SEE SOME EVIDENCE, THAT CONTESTABILITY WILL IMPROVE SERVICES, THAT IT WILL DO WHAT IT SAYS ON THE TIN.

THIS HAS NOT ONLY BEEN NAPO’S CHALLENGE; IT’S THE CHALLENGE OF THE PROBATION BOARD ASSOCIATION, PRISON OFFICERS UNION, THE JUDICIARY AND SOME MP’s.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT PRODUCED A BUISNESS CASE. NO COMPANY WOULD CHANGE IT METHOD OF MANUFACTURE, ITS WAY OF WORKING UNLESS A BUISNESS CASE WAS PRODUCED TO EVIDENCE THAT ANY PROPOSED CHANGES WILL MAKE AN IMPROVEMENT. SO WHY IS THIS GOVERNMENT, HELL BENT ON GOING DOWN THIS ROAD?

AT THE NAPO CONFERENCE IN OCTOBER JOHN McDONNELL, LABOUR MP AND SECRETARY OF THE JUSTICE UNIONS PARLIAMENTARY GROUP, SAID HE BELIEVES THE GOVERNMENT PLANS FOR PROBATION ARE MOTIVATED BY DOGMA.

HE ALSO SAID “THE LABOUR GOVERNMENT HAD BECOME DOMINATED BY COMPETITION RATHER THAN ENLIGHTENMENT. THE MANTRA IS NO LONGER ‘WHAT WORK’ BUT ‘WHAT’S PROFITABLE’

AT OUR LAST STAFF CONFERENCE I SPOKE ABOUT HOW ALL THESE CHANGES UNDERSTANDABLY CAUSES ANXIETY, FRUSTRATION, ANGER AND SOMETIMES, UNFORTUNATELY THROUGH WEARINESS, COMPLACANCY.

THE PROPOSED CHANGES THOUGH, ARE FAR MORE WORRING THAN ANY PREVIOUS CHANGES WE HAVE EXPERIENCED. HANG ON; I SAID THAT AT THE LAST CONFERENCE. I’M SAYING IT AGAIN HOWEVER BECAUSE THE PROPOSALS ARE DIFFERENT AND ARE MORE WORRYING.

LET ME REMIND YOU OF THE KEY PROPOSALS:

• THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHALL ASSUME THE POWER TO CONTRACT FOR PROBATION SERVICES.

• RATHER THAN ALLOW PROBATION BOARDS TO CONTRACT OUT, THE COMMISSIONING OF END-TO-END OFFENDER MANAGEMENT, SERVICES WILL BE NATIONAL OR REGIONAL.

• PROBATION BOARDS WILL BE ABOLISHED AND THE HOME SECRETARY WILL INSTEAD CREATE SMALLER, BUISNESS-LIKE, BODIES. THESE BODIES WILL INITIALY HOLD CONTRACTS TO FACILITATE THE TRANSFER TO THE NEW REGIME AND AVOID MASS TRANSFER OF STAFF;

• IT IS PREDICTED THAT SOME BOARDS WILL BE LEFT WITH NO WORK AND WILL THEREFORE DISAPPEAR.

• THERE WILL BE NO LONGER A NEED, FOR SENTENCERS TO SIT ON THE NEW BUISNESS-LIKE BODIES.

I ALONG WITH NAPO BELIEVE THAT ‘CONTESTABILITY’ THREATENS THE VERY EXISTANCE OF A PUBLIC PROBATION SERVICE

WE MUST RESIST THE PROPOSALS AND I CALL UPON BOARD MEMBERS TO JOIN WITH US IN THIS RESISTANCE.

TO BE BOARD MEMBERS YOU MUST BE PUBLIC SPIRITED INDIVIDUALS WITH A SENSE OF PUBLIC DUTY AND A DESIRE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. DON’T LET THIS GOVERNMENT DESTROY YOU OR THE PUBLIC PROBATION SERVICE.

I WILL QUOTE FROM A PROBATION BOARD ASSOCIATION PRESS STATEMENT ON THESE PROPOSALS:

“THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO DELIVER A SEAMLESS SERVICE AND ACHIVE A REDUCTION IN LEVELS OF RE-OFFENDING’

I BELIEVE THE SCOTISH ASSEMBLY SHOWS US THE WAY. THEY HAVE INTRODUCED LEGISLATION WHICH REQUIRES DIFFERENT AGENCIES TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP.

THE STATEMENT CONTINUES:

“MOST BOARDS ALREADY WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VOLUNTARY SECTOR PROVIDERS AND SOME, ALSO WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR. COMPETITION IS NOT THE ISSUE; THE ISSUE IS TO DO WITH RETAINING THE LOCAL VOICE IN DECIDING HOW PROBATION SERVICES SHOULD WORK TO DELIVER LOCAL PRIORITIES; AND WHETHER TEN REGIONAL COMMISSIONERS CAN BE EXPECTED TO KNOW HOW THE MASSIVE BUDGETS, UNDER THEIR CONTROL SHOULD BE ALLOCATED AND COMPETED FOR”.

BARONESS SCOTLAND HAS SAID ‘THAT COMMUNITIES LIE AT THE HEART OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. IF JUSTICE IS TO WORK WELL, IT NEEDS THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND IT AND FEEL CONFIDENT IN IT. SIR IAN BLAIR COMMISIONER OF THE LONDON METROPOLITAN POLICE FORCE, HAD A SIMILAR MESSAGE WHEN HE SPOKE AT THE RICHARD DIMBLEBY LECTURE TELEVISED ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT. SO WHY IS THE GOVERNMENT MOVING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION?

THE GOVERNMENTS AIM, TO IMPROVE SERVICE PROVISION AND REDUCE RE-OFFENDING IS A POSITIVE AND WELCOME AIM. THE METHOD OF ACHIEVING THIS IS HOWEVER IS FLAWED. CONTESTABILITY/ PRIVITISATION IS NOT THE WAY.

CHASING THE PROFIT REDUCES QUALITY AND WE WILL LOOSE OUR CORE VALUES, NOT INDIVIDUALLY I HOPE BUT ORGINISATIONALLY? WOULD A PRIVATE COMPANY RETAIN AND SUPPORT PROBATION VALUES? NONE OF US HERE JOINED THE PROBATION SERVICE FOR THE MONEY.

WE ALL BELIEVE MANY WHO COMMIT OFFENCES HAVE HAD THEIR LIFE OPPORTUNITIES CURTAILED BY POVERTY, DISCRIMINATION AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION. WE BELIEVE PEOPLE ARE CAPABLE OF CHANGING THEIR BELIEFS, BEHAVIOUR AND ATTITUDE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY LIVE.

SO WE STRIVE TO:

TREAT PEOPLE FAIRLY AND OPENLY ACCORDING TO THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS

EMPOWER PEOPLE TO MAKE INFORMED CHOICES TO INCREASE CONTROL AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THEIR LIVES IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE RISK OF HARM TO THEMSELVES AND OTHERS.

PROMOTE EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND ANTI-DISCRIMINATION AND ANTI RACIST PRACTICE

PROMOTE THE RIGHTS OF BOTH VICTIMS OF CRIME AND THOSE WHO COMMIT OFFENCES WHILST RECOGNISING THE COMPETING RIGHTS OF DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY.

BUILD ON PEOPLES STRENGTHS TO ENABLE THEM TO CHANGE.

I ASK AGAIN WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THESE VALUES HOW WILL THEY BE PROTECTED WHEN CHASING PROFIT?

MAKING MONEY FROM PEOPLE I HAVE JUST DESCRIBED AS HAVING THEIR LIFE OPPORTUNITIES CURTAILED BY POVERTY, DISCRIMINATION AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION IS, I WOULD ARGUE, MORALY ABHORRENT.

SO WHAT CAN WE DO?

EARLIER I SAID WE MUST RESIST THESE PROPOSALS, MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE SAID FIGHT. I’VE ASKED A NUMBER OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS AND WHAT WE ALL NEED TO DO, INCLUDING OUR SENIOR MANAGEMENT, BOARD MEMBERS AND NON UNION COLLEAGUES, IS TO PUT THESE AND OTHER QUESTIONS TO YOUR LOCAL ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE, IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. YOU NEED TO EYEBALL YOUR MP.

NO GAGGING ORDER SHOULD PREVENT ANYONE FROM THEIR DEMOCRATIC RIGHT TO SPEAK OUT, TO CRITISISE, TO LAWFULLY DEMONSTRATE AGAINST ANY GOVERNMENT IN THIS COUNTRY WHERE FREE SPEECH IS A RIGHT.

THOSE SUFFERING FROM CHANGE FATIGE AND WEARINESS MAY SAY, WHATS THE POINT, IT WON’T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. THE GOVERNMENT WILL DO WHAT IT WANTS ANYWAY.

I SAY, IF YOU DON’T DO ANYTHING THEN YES MOST DEFINITELY, IT WILL HAPPEN, THE GOVERNMENT RELIES ON THIS ATTITUDE OR APETHY TO WIN.

PEOPLE I KNOW ALSO SAY, NOBODY CARES WHAT HAPPENS TO PROBATION. LET ME REMIND YOU, PROBATION IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM; AN INFLUENTIAL GROUP WHO DO CARE ARE POLITICIANS. CRIMINAL JUSTICE, SENTENCING, CRIME RATES ARE ALL THINGS A GOOD POLITICIAN KNOWS VOTERS CARE ABOUT.

SOME BELIEVE THE GOVERNMENTS CONSULTATION PROCESS IS VALULESS. IT’S GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS, YOU MAYBE RIGHT BUT ARE YOU GOING TO LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT? WE NEED TO SHOUT LOUDLY AND CLEARLY THAT THESE PROPOSALS WILL NOT WORK AND WHY THEY WILL NOT WORK.

AFTER THE DEFEAT ON THE 90 DAYS DETENTION ELEMENT OF THE TERRORIST BILL THE GOVERNMENT MUST LEARN LESSONS AND LISTEN, MINISTER HAVE SAID SO THEMSELVES, BUT THEY CAN’T HEAR YOU IF YOU DON’T SPEEK UP.

NAPO IS LEADING A CAMPAIGN, WE HAVE SUPPORT FROM OTHER UNIONS, THE TUC, BACK BENCH MP’s AND MANY OTHERS. WE WILL BE ADVISING OUR MEMBERS AND ANYONE ELSE WHAT THEY CAN DO.

• OUR CAMPAIGN WILL BE LAUNCHED AT THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

• NAPO WILL DEMAND MEETINGS WITH MINISTERS AND OFFICIALS

• A PRESS AND MEDIA STRATEGY WILL BE DEVELOPED

• BRIEFINGS WILL BE COMMISSIONED ON INTERNATIONAL COMPARISONS.

• NAPO WILL CONSIDER COMMISSIONING AN INDEPENDENT REPORT INTO COSTS, VIABILITY AND DELIVERY OF THE PROPOSALS

• MP’s WILL CALL FOR AN ADJOURNMENT DEBATE

• HUNDEREDS OF PARLIMENTARY QUESTIONS WILL BE TABLED

• AN EARLY DAY MOTION WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON. YOU MUST ASK YOUR MP TO SIGN IT.

• WE NEED TO CONVINCE THE GOVERNMENT TO REVERSE ITS POLICY ON THE GROUNDS IT WILL NOT REDUCE RE- OFFENDING BUT WILL LEAD TO A FRAGMENTATION OF SERVICES AND CHAOS.

THOSE WHO STILL FEEL THE FIGHT IS ALREADY LOST SHOULD REMEMBER, HELEN STEEL AND DAVID MORRIS. THEY WERE THE DEFENDANTS IN THE MACDONALDS LIBAL CASE. THEY STOOD UP AGAINST ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL MULTI NATIONAL COMPANIES AND WON.

IT IS A REMINDER OF WHAT CAN BE ACHIEVED BY PROTEST. AFTER ALL OUR FIGHT IS NOT WITH A MULTI NATIONAL COMPANY IT’S ONLY WITH GOVERNMENT!

FINALLY - UNION AND MANAGEMENT WORKING TOGETHER

WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR MANAGEMENT DURING THESE DIFFICULT TIMES, WORKING TO MAKE THE WORKPLACE A BETTER ENVIRONMENT.

SENIOR MANAGEMENT ARE IN BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE AND HAVE A DIFFICULT TASK. THEY MUST GET THIS SERVICE READY FOR THE PROPOSED CHANGES. THEY MUST ASSUME OUR CAMPAIGN WILL FAIL AND WE WILL BE COMPETING FOR CONTACTS IN THE FUTURE. YET I’M SURE THEY HOLD SIMILAR VIEWS AND WORRIES ABOUT PRIVITISATION.

I AM NOT BEING DEFEATIST BUT WE MUST ALSO BE PRACTICAL. IF COMPETITION IN SOME SHAPE OR FORM COMES, THIS AREA NEEDS TO BE READY. SO WHAT CAN WE DO?

THESE PROPOSALS ARE BEING INTRODUCED WHEN PROBATION IS PERFORMING AT ITS HIGHEST LEVEL. WE NEED TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE ON THIS GOOD PERFORMANCE. (AS JANE HAS SAID)

IT IS BY DOING THIS WE WILL BE IN A POSITION TO AVOID WORKING FOR SECURICOR OR SOME OTHER PROFIT GRABBING ORGANISATION, WHO’S ONLY INTEREST, IS ITS SHARE HOLDERS.

PETER DANIEL, HANNAH ANDREWS AND I, WILL CONTINUE TO WORK VIA THE JNCC WITH OUR EMPLOYER IN A FRAMEWORK WHERE THE VIEWS ON MATTERS AFFECTING THE INTEREST OF ALL THE BOARDS EMPLOYEES, THAT IS YOU, ARE FREELY EXCHANGED.

WE WANT AND NEED GOOD INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS DURING THESE TIMES AHEAD. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THE PRINCIPLES, OBJECTIVES AND TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE JNCC. MAKE USE OF THIS PROCESS, THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK FOR THE BETTERMENT OF US ALL IN A PLACE WHERE WE ALL SPEND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF OUR TIME DURING OUR LIFETIME.

TO RECAP;

I SAID I’LL TALK ABOUT CONTESTABILITY OR AS WE KNOW IT, PRIVITISATION. I ASKED - WILL WE MAKE OUR CENTENARY YEAR AS A PUBLIC PROBATION SERVICE, I BELIEVE WE WILL AND WE MUST.

I TALKED ABOUT - WHAT CAN BE DONE – THE MESSAGE IS, DON’T BE A DEFEATIST, THE POWER OF PROTEST IS ALIVE AND WELL

AND WORKING TOGETHER WITH MANAGEMENT– USE AND SUPPORT THE JNCC

AND FINALLY, I SAID IT LAST YEAR SO GUESS WHAT I’LL SAY IT AGAIN,

KEEP PROBATION, KEEP IT PUBLIC

THANK YOU.