Napo, the largest union representing staff working in the probation Service, was part of a delegation who met with the Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood and James Timpson OBE, Minister for Prisons, Parole and Probation yesterday.
The meeting was convened in response to an urgent request from the probation trade unions who claim that their members are under intolerable pressure due to the combination of inadequate pay and unsustainable workloads which have been exacerbated by the Early Release (ECSL) scheme enacted by the last Government.
The Secretary of State provided a preview of her Government’s intentions to reduce the time that Prisoners serve on Standard Determinate Sentences (SDS) to 40% from the current 50%, and to suspend the current ECSL early release scheme which has attracted substantial criticism from prison and probation staff.
It seems likely that the new scheme will come into effect in September on a phased basis, and is intended to increase the time for the necessary administration by Prison Staff and risk assessment by Probation Staff to take place within a 6 week period before an individual’s release.
Unions gave a cautious welcome to the policy, but took the opportunity to express the immediate impact of this change on already hard pressed staff across the whole of the Probation Service. In addition, it was forcefully pointed out that what is really needed is a comprehensive investment package to restore the Probation Service to the standards that existed prior to its wilful neglect by the previous Government.
After welcoming the new Ministerial team to their appointments, Napo General Secretary said: “whilst appreciating the warm words from the Secretary of State about the work undertaken by probation staff, and the commitment to an improved service, these alone will not cut it for our members, who expect a new Government to show them the respect they deserve by agreeing to reopen pay negotiations now.”
It was also pointed out by Napo and UNISON representatives that they have a mandate to move towards potential industrial action, but that both unions are prioritising the need for positive engagement to produce meaningful outcomes for their members.
The Secretary of State agreed to consider the points that had been raised by the trade unions during the meeting and indicated a willingness to engage further on the other key issues that had been the subject of previous correspondence.