The Sentencing Bill is due to be laid in parliament on
9th July 2025 and seeks to legislate on a number of
recommendations from the Sentencing Review. Whilst the full
details of the Bill have yet to be shared, it is clear to Napo
and other stakeholders that the implementation of any changes
relies heavily on the Probation Service.
The current staffing and workloads crisis in probation has been
widely reported on over the last few years and shows no signs of
recovery. That is why Napo is calling on the Minister to take
urgent action with regards to improving probation pay with a view
to reduce attrition rates and help with long term recruitment.
In the past decade probation pay has stagnated. Over 10 years it
has seen just 11% growth while inflation has increased by 81%.
Having suffered years of pay freezes and paltry pay rises,
probation pay has fallen behind other justice agencies. Probation
staff salaries are below that of both prisons and police, with
72% of Probation staff being paid less than the overall UK
average salary.
General Secretary Ian Lawrence said: “Probation staff have been
asked to go above and beyond in recent years with early release
schemes, constant organisational change, massive workloads and a
shortage of staff. All of this has left our members feeling
undervalued and burnt out. This government must take steps to get
probation make on an even keel and stabilise this vital service”.
The lack of competitive wages has resulted in poor recruitment
but crucially very poor retention rates. HMPPS figures show that
staff, in particular Probation Officers are leaving after just
3-5 years. This simply isn't sustainable and to be effective,
probation needs experienced staff not just to manage the more
complex cases but also to mentor newer staff coming into the
service.
Ian Lawrence said: “We need the Minister and Lord Chancellor to
make a case to the Treasury that probation should be seen as an
exceptional case and therefore get a pay rise above the civil
service pay remit. If not, then the idea that our members will
yet again just pick up the additional work from the Sentencing
Bill is totally unrealistic. We already have significantly high
sickness absence, the majority of which are due to mental health
issues. Our members are really struggling, and the government
needs to give them recognition for everything they have had to
endure”.
Ends
Notes:
Napo has submitted a joint pay claim with it's sister unions,
Unison and GMB, for 12%. The civil service pay remit is 3.25%
Current starting salaries:
Administrator: £23,583
Probation Service Officer: £26,475
Probation Officer: £35,130
Senior Probation Officer: £44,100
