Privatisation of probation “a mess”, say MPs

22 June 2018

The part-privatisation of probation services is “currently a mess”, the Commons’ Justice Committee has reported following an eight-month inquiry into the sector.

In 2014 and 2015, the Ministry of Justice launched the Transforming Rehabilitation programme, which put the delivery of some aspects of the service into private hands.

In its report, the Justice Committee warned that these reforms have caused “serious issues”, including a lack of support for those leaving prison that could potentially increase reoffending rates.

“We have heard first-hand the impact that the current probation system is having on those that are receiving probation services,” Chair of the Committee Bob Neill said.

“It cannot be right for an individual to leave custody with £46 to last them a number of weeks, nowhere to live and no job,” he added.

As well as negatively affecting service users, the reforms have put too much pressure on probation workers, who are experiencing low morale as a result, the report said.

“Hard working and dedicated staff are doing their best with a probation system that is currently a mess,” Neill stated.

“There are major questions to be answered on a whole range of issues including the support people get when they leave custody, the performance of probation providers, contracts with CRCs, poor staff morale and the involvement of the voluntary sector,” he said, adding: “This has a negative impact on the number of individuals who go on to reoffend.”

Such problems have arisen from the rushed implementation of the reforms and a lack of piloting, the Committee commented, calling on the Ministry of Justice to launch a review into the sector that considers alternative ways of delivering probation services and report back by 01 February 2019.