Napo, the largest trade union representing Probation staff has
condemned the Governments recent announcement that from the
23rd of May, certain categories of Prisoners in 84
premises across the male estate in England and Wales will be
eligible for early release up to 70 days prior to the end of
their sentence. A similar scheme that has been running in the
female prison estate has now been suspended.
The End of Custody Supervised Licence (ECSL) scheme was launched
last October as a temporary response to the capacity crisis which
has seen the prison population soar to nearly 88,000. The
Government narrative that the (then 35-day release) process,
would ease the increasing pressure on prisons and allow probation
staff to safely and effectively manage clients back into the
community has been seriously criticised by the unions
representing prison and probation staff.
Napo General Secretary Ian Lawrence said: “We have spent many
months trying to convince the Secretary of State that in order
for early release schemes to work in an effective and safe
manner, it has to be recognised that the probation service is
also over capacity, and that the members we represent are also
now at breaking point.”
Adding: “The ECSL scheme is an unmitigated failure and has not
only been extended without Parliamentary scrutiny but represents
an increasing risk to public safety. Ministers have failed to
heed our warnings that the Government's refusal to provide
workload relief to all probation staff and address the
disgraceful situation of a two-tier pay structure in HMPPS where
Napo members are the poor relations, will result in us
considering our mandate to ballot members for potential
industrial action and a possible legal challenge which may
involve other stakeholders.”
The Probation Unions are seeking an urgent meeting with the
Secretary of State.
