Following the Government’s announcement on 9 May of ‘Transforming Rehabilitation; a strategy for reform,’ the Probation Chiefs Association voiced serious concerns that the reforms pose risks to public protection through service fragmentation, and the dismantling of a currently high performing public probation service structure and effective local partnerships. Below is a roundup of media coverage which specifically featured the PCA:
Channel 4 News focused on how the reforms could dismantle established and successful Integrated Offender Management schemes through removing local Probation Trusts as core partners. The footage was filmed in Avon & Sommerset and featured Sally Lewis, PCA portfolio lead for IOM , the local police force, a current service user and the local Police & Crime Commissioner;
http://www.channel4.com/news/probation-proposals-prison-reoffending-chris-grayling
Sue Hall, PCA Chair also featured on the BBC 1 news piece covering the story. The PCA was also represented on the BBC website story ‘Payment by results plan for offender supervision under fire’; http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22452239
On radio, the PCA spokespersons Sonia Crozier, Sarah Billiald, Savas Hadjipavlou, John Budd and Sue Hall voiced their concerns on the BBC Today Programme, Radio 5 Live Breakfast, local radio stations across the country, and on international radio.
The Evening Standard article ‘Probation Chiefs slam shakeup plan’ featured Sarah Billiald, PCA Communications lead;
http://www.standard.co.uk/panewsfeeds/probation-chiefs-slam-shakeup-plan-8608456.html
The PCA featured in the Guardian articles ‘Ministers accused of dismantling probation service’ http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/may/09/ministers-accused-dismantling-probation-service?CMP=twt_fd
And in ‘public service probation trusts to become public service mutuals’;
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/may/09/probation-trusts-public-service-mutuals
The Independent also featured the PCA in the article ‘Risking public safety; probation chiefs vent fury at payment on results private sector shakeup’ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/risking-public-safety-probation-chiefs-vent-fury-at-payments-on-results-private-sector-shakeup-8608859.html
For the PCA’s immediate comments concerning the Transforming Rehabilitation strategy, please see here..
For all media enquires, please call the PCA media phone on 020 3657 7844
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