The NAO has today published a damming report into
Transforming Rehabilitation (TR), the probation reforms
introduced by in 2013. The report
states that the reforms have failed to meet the Ministry of
Justice targets to reduce re-offending and have cost the taxpayer
considerably more than intended.
Napo, the Trade Union and Professional Association for
Probation staff has repeatedly called on the government to halt
this failed experiment since the reforms first began, warning of
the potential risk to the public, to staff and to the
taxpayer.
General Secretary, Ian Lawrence, said: “This report not
only confirms Napo’s warnings to Ministers but very clearly
states that the Ministry must now pause its plan to simply re-let
the probation contracts, and that they should reflect on what has
gone wrong and why.”
The private contracts, now in line for early termination
due to their failings, have significantly increased the cost to
the taxpayer but have repeatedly failed to deliver on their
objectives.
The NAO report seriously criticises the contracts
themselves and the failure of the MoJ to manage them effectively
and to hold providers to account. In addition, the report is
scathing about failures to manage the impact of a reduced volume
of work on the financial stability of the providers whose
operational costs increased well above their original expectation
from the contracts with the MoJ.
Ian Lawrence went on to say: “Not only have the Community
Rehabilitation Companies been unable to deliver services, the
National Probation Service also has significant failings. Staff
shortages have resulted in unmanageable workloads across the
board. In London staff vacancies are at 20% so it’s clear the NPS
is not sustainable in its current form.
The MoJ intends to let 10 new contracts later this year
with a view to increasing the size of the existing Community
Rehabilitation Companies and reducing the number of providers.
These proposals have met massive criticism, with stakeholders
across the board calling for the MoJ to call a halt and to look
at alternatives.
Ian Lawrence said: ”Napo is clear that a TR mark 2 will not
resolve the issue of the first reform programme and will only
perpetuate the ongoing risks and issues we have seen over the
last 4 years. We totally support the call by the NAO on the MOJ
to pause the reform programme and to reflect on what can be
learnt. Napo is calling for a reunified probation service under
public ownership and with a greater focus on local
engagement”
This report comes just one week after the collapse of
Working Links who were previously responsible for providing
probation services in three Community Rehabilitation Companies.
The report cites concerns that other providers could also become
insolvent and that the associated risks have not been properly
mitigated.
