Judy McKnight's Napolog

Web log of Napo's general secretary

June 21, 2008

Last Week

Last week was a typical, if depressing week, in terms of the mixed messages coming from Government on criminal justice policy.

Monday saw the leaks of the dreadful Louise Casey’s report , subsequently published on Thursday, recommending tougher, humiliating, and apparently privatised unpaid work projects.

Tuesday saw a report on plans from Ed Balls, the Children’s’ Minister, to ensure that youth justice was about effectiveness rather than being tough for its own sake.

Below is Napo’s press release commenting on the Casey Report, and here is a first class article by Ian Loader, an Oxford Professor of Criminology.

Here is also a first class Guardian editorial on why Casey is wrong.

Harry was rightly vocal for Napo on the failings of the report, but where were our Ministers? Where was a voice for the Probation Service itself?

I am currently preparing for my Bill McWilliams lecture in Cambridge next week, on the theme “Speaking up for Probation”.

Last week’s events were one more example of the lack of a clear official voice speaking up for the Probation Service, and loudly saying that Casey’s report is rubbish.

Last week I was also quoted in the Financial Times on the problems of public sector pay, and the fact that we might need to consider industrial action, possibly jointly with other unions. I am referred to as a “retiring General Secretary”. Read that as you will!

Napo Press Release

Casey Report on Criminal Justice

Commenting on leaked abstracts of the Casey report on criminal justice Harry Fletcher, Assistant General Secretary of Napo the Probation Union, said:

“Any moves to increase the involvement of the community and magistrates in the oversight and planning of community penalties is to be welcomed. However, putting offenders in uniforms, naming and shaming them on billboards and making community service as demeaning as possible will not reduce crime. The proposals will humiliate offenders rather than rehabilitate them. Wherever possible community work schemes should repair the damage done to individuals or communities. Any variation in sentence should be left to courts not probation staff. Probation must not be put in the position where it is judge and jury."

He added: " It is essential that the Government reviews its policies for victims to ensure they are centre stage".

Posted by jmcknight at June 21, 2008 11:21 AM