Concerns the probation service is still struggling post-unification

A group of rehabilitation and offender management services have spoken out over the work that still needs to be done post the reunification of the probation service.

In addition to managing all offenders, the National Probation Service also now deliver unpaid work, accredited programmes and other interventions. 

Now however, one year on from the changes, representatives from the voluntary sector and community groups in London have said that difficulties remain with pre-sentence reports, sentence management and resettlement. 

The representatives were gathered for a meeting with the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee to discuss their work with the London Probation Service and Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime

Kate Paradine, CEO of Women in Prison said: “I agree its really positive start in terms of the relationships between probation officers and with the charities working on the sector but London has to be very careful to make sure it’s not drawn down any more punitive route and there are some worrying signs around what’s happening nationally.”

When the group was asked about whether the needs of the people they support was reflected in court advice including through pre-sentence reports Dez Brown, CEO of Spark2Life said: “I would say no, I think there’s a lot of learning still. 

“Regarding the pre-sentence report, it’s more risk averse and it’s not person-centred and I think a lot of that is probably based on the fact that case loads are high […] and sometimes the contact that they’ve had with service users are more transactional. 

“It’s more coming in, checking in, not necessarily getting to know them and part of that is because of large case loads.” 

Ana Caldeira, Senior Operations Manager at Catch22, agreed: “We’ve realised that there’s a lot less pre-release needs being identified. 

“A lot of the needs are only being identified upon release from custodial background.” 

Resettlement support has not improved since reunification, the group said and members emphasised the “disorientating” shift for probation staff, saying Covid has also had a part to play. 

Ms Paradine cited HMP Bronzefield, saying they are releasing over 60% of women without safe and stable accommodation. 

“Part of the reason for that is because there weren’t plans for in-prison support,” she said. 

“The system has not been set up to have a whole system approach which has prison and probation seamlessly joined together. 

“Many people in the system don’t know what their role is, and no one can really explain how everyone fits together.” 

Ms Calderia also referenced the difficulties with getting into prisons, saying that with that lack of contact, people will be released and may not want to have any contact with the charity offering support “because they don’t even know who we are”. 

Mr Brown echoed what had been said, adding “Prisons often don’t know what voluntary services exist and that’s the same with probation.

“That’s a big thing we need to acknowledge when we’re talking about the added value of that extra support.

“I do feel that probation more often than not are managing crisis, they’re getting people that come out and there isn’t that sense of relationship. 

“There needs to be some mapping [of services] across London.” 

Next week, the Institute of Government are holding an event to discuss the Unification of Probation Services.