18.10.13
Napo to strike over probation privatisation
Probation officers are to strike over Government plans to privatise services for low and medium risk offenders. 80% of Napo members voted yes on a 46% turn-out in the ballot.
Contracts worth £450m are currently out to tender for the supervision of 225,000 offenders across 20 English regions. Funding will be awarded on a payment by results basis, with services to be run by a mix of private companies and charities.
A new body, the National Probation Service, will be set up to deal with high-risk offenders.
Napo warned that privatisation could increase reoffending rates and harm the public.
General secretary Ian Lawrence said: “Decimating the award-winning public sector Probation Service and selling it off to the likes of G4S and Serco will result in increased re-offending rates, a lack of continuity in risk management, and will see the privateers making huge profits at the expense of victims, offenders and taxpayers.”
Justice minister Jeremy Wright said: “More than 600,000 offences were committed last year by those who had broken the law before, despite spending £4bn a year on prisons and probation.
“The public deserves better and we are committed to introducing our important reforms, which were widely consulted on. We will continue to support staff and engage with unions as our reforms move forwards.”
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