Judy McKnight's Napolog

Web log of Napo's general secretary

July 18, 2007

Ping Pong?

The House of Commons are debating today the Lords’ amendments to the Offender Management Bill which I referred to in my letter in today’s Guardian, (sent jointly with Dave Prentis of Unison).

Our letter makes mention of the Chief Inspector of Probation’s Annual Report which was press released with the headline: “Squeeze on probation capacity threatens progress on offender management: - risk of unsafe level of public expectations.”

Andrew Bridges’ “Forward” to his Annual Report is worth reading not only in relation to the risk to NOMS but also in relation to our workloads campaign. We are used to being told that resources are adequate. Andrew Bridges provides useful support to our arguments that Probation is effectively “full”.

The Parliamentary debate on NOMS may continue for another day or two, “ping ponging” between the Commons and the Lords.

Harry was quoted in Prime Ministers’ questions today on the early release of prisoners. Napo would not wish to support the Tories in opposing early release, but we are entitled to continue to press for the necessary resources for this extra work and for proper risk assessments to be done.

Posted by jmcknight at July 18, 2007 05:49 PM