Judy McKnight's Napolog

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Web log of Napo's general secretary

February 28, 2007

OM BIll Gets Through- Just

The Government won the vote on the OM Bill tonight with a 25 Majority.

More detail will follow but this is a excellent basis for going to the Lords.

Simon Jenkins in today's Guardian is spot on.

Posted by jmcknight at 07:26 PM | Comments (0)

February 24, 2007

Big Vote- Wednesday

Wednesday is the big vote, "Third Reading", on the Offender Management Bill.

Have you lobbied your MP?

If not, it's not too late.

We know that John Reid and Gerry Sutcliffe are worried.

Just let's ensure that what ever the outcome, we all did our best.

Footnote: A good, and as far as I'm aware, an accurate report of the potential rebellion on the OM Bill in today's Observer.

Posted by jmcknight at 12:31 PM | Comments (0)

Tell John Reid what you think

John Reid online to answer your questions.
Can you wait?

Posted by jmcknight at 12:28 PM | Comments (0)

February 18, 2007

10 Days to Go!

It is now 10 days to the Third Reading of the Offender Management Bill in the House of Commons.

Our lobbying seems to be paying off, as we know of more and more MPs who plan to support the necessary amendments or oppose the Bill outright.

Nick Cohen in today's Observer is not over flattering about the Probation Service,or the rest of the criminal justice system, but recognises that our problems are intricately linked to the failure of the Government to tackle the growing prisons crisis, and that splitting us up and privatising us will make matters worse not better.

He has also picked up that the Bill, due for Third reading on 28 February, is likely to see the biggest revolt against the Government so far in this Parliament.

Have you lobbied your MP yet?

The next 10 days are critical so get that letter off! Even better, go and visit your MP in their surgery next weekend.

The model letter is in the "Stop the Bill" section of Napo's website, and is also reproduced below.

Continue reading "10 Days to Go!"

Posted by jmcknight at 11:23 AM | Comments (0)

February 16, 2007

John Reid - The Cuddly Side?

For John Reid, who clearly likes making speeches in prisons, today's speech was presumably as a good as it gets for us.

He didn’t attack the Probation Service, praised our progress on enforcement and sounded positively friendly in talking about Colin Moses,(POA Chair), and Anne Owers!

The newspapers will probably concentrate on his announcement on extra prison places but if you read the full speech, he also recognises the need to address sentencing inflation. Unfortunately that won’t be what makes headlines.

I missed this comment in the Guardian the week before last, by John Halliday, who wrote the report, “Making Punishments Work”, the review of sentencing framework for the Home Office in 2001. He provides a good analysis of why this sort of speech by John Reid is simply inadequate and misses the point of what is needed if Ministers are serious about tackling sentencing policy.

Here is John Reid's full speech:

Download file

Interestingly, Saturday's Guardian explains all.

Posted by jmcknight at 09:20 PM | Comments (0)

February 14, 2007

The Future for Youth Justice

Good stuff being said by the experts about how youth justice should operate.

Jon Fayle, until recently working for the Youth Justice Board, is outspoken in his analysis in today’s Guardian on the problems that arise from locking more and more young people up.

(There is even a blog for comments on his article if anyone is so minded.)

Anne Owers is also spot on, as usual, in her analysis on the issues for young adults, 18 to 21 year olds.

It’s pretty scary stuff to think of Louise “ASBO” Casey being Chair of the YJB.

Sunday 18 February Update: From the leaked letter in today's Observer, it sounds as if the Youth Justice Board have the same concerns!

Posted by jmcknight at 06:16 PM | Comments (0)