Chair of the Justice Committee concerned about the Government’s approach to probation

Chair of the Justice Committee, Bob Neill MP, said:

“Today we published the Government’s interim response to our report on Transforming Rehabilitation.

“It is vital that services to rehabilitate offenders work well. This affects not only the 260,00 offenders are on probation [Note 1], but also victims, families, communities and all those who work in probation services. But we have heard strong evidence that probation isn’t working. Just last week, Women in Prison told us that the Government’s latest reforms had been ‘disastrous’, while Agenda (Alliance for Women and Girls at Risk) described them as ‘absolutely devastating’.

“The Government response acknowledges that improvements need to be made. The MOJ has cut short Community Rehabilitation Company contracts and consulted widely on improvements. Much of the Government response is positive, for example introducing a minimum of monthly face-to-face contract between offenders and probation services. But we are concerned that the Government consultation does not go far enough. We are disappointed that the Government has not taken up our recommendation for a review into the long-term future and sustainability of delivering probation services under the models introduced by the Transforming Rehabilitation reforms, including how performance under the TR system might compare to an alternative system.

“We look forward to the Government’s full response to our Committee’s report when the Government is in a position to announce detailed plans for the next generation of Community Rehabilitation Companies in early 2019.”