Probation officers are at “breaking point” and the service is in crisis even before thousands more offenders are released early from prison, opposition MPs and union officials have warned.
As of this week, inmates will have their time in custody slashed and be let out to free up jail space, despite concerns over public safety and crime victims being let down by the justice system.
Workload surge
More than 6,000 offenders, including those jailed for sex crimes and violence, were added to probation officers’ workloads in just nine months.
By December there were 248,568 being supervised, up 2.5% on the number at the end of March. This included an extra 1,202 sex offenders, taking the total to 27,541, an increase of 4.6%.
There were also an extra 1,554 on probation for committing violence against a person, up 2.5% to 64,180.
Union and opposition warnings
Shadow justice minister Nick Timothy said: “This increase is concerning as the Probation Service is already at risk of being overwhelmed thanks to Labour’s early release scheme.
“Thousands of criminals will be freed early starting from next week and we know that most will not be tagged before they are released.
“Public safety is at risk, which is why these criminals should be behind bars where they belong.”
Probation officers said they are already understaffed and are preparing to vote on strike action which could throw the supervision of convicted criminals into complete disarray.
Tania Bassett, National Official of the trade union for probation staff, said: “NAPO is deeply concerned about the additional work the early releases and other aspects of the Sentencing Act will have on our members.
“Probation has been in a workload crisis for three years now and it has got progressively worse.
“The unsustainable high workloads are having a detrimental impact on probation staff and as a result we are see high levels of sickness in an already understaffed workforce.”
Ian Lawrence, General Secretary, added: “Our members are at breaking point and that is why we have announced that we will be going to a formal ballot for industrial action next month.
“We have repeatedly given HM Prison and Probation Service opportunities to work with us to reduce workloads and fully recognise the crisis we are in and they have not taken up our offer.
“Instead we have seen a sticking plaster approach that has not seen any real benefit for our members.”
