Agenda item

Report of the Director (Governance) lists the actions from previous meetings and their current status.  Page(s) 1 to 2

Members received a report which provided them with information on the current status of the actions from previous meetings.

Mr John Hughes of BeNCH (the Probation Service for Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire) was in attendance for this item to talk about the issues raised at the last meeting in respect of the Probation Service.

He opened by saying that he felt contact should have been made to him prior to escalating the concerns felt by the Committee to the Ministry of Justice, NoMs and the local MP.  He said he felt that scrutiny was about obtaining information and, in his opinion, the letter sent had not sought to do that.

John then went on to explain that it had been government policy to privatise the Probation Service.  He said that the reason for outsourcing was to squeeze money out of a service.  Where previously he had a team of 30 officers, he now had 7.  In order to save money and meet policy, staff numbers were inevitably reduced.

Administration of the service is carried out in Huntingdon.  This is very much IT based and there were some issues with the technology early on.

The work of the Probation Service was split into two areas.

John stated that BeNCH (the Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC)) predated Sodexo and that the issue of how BeNCH provides services is a separate issue.

He said that it was a myth that CRCs only dealt with offenders who were at low/medium risk of harm.  25-30% were involved in domestic abuse – how could that be considered low/medium risk?  It is also the case that risk fluctuates.

Another concern was the current scheme of speedy justice.  This meant that the courts would not get all of the information they needed to reach an informed decision and that therefore sentences did not reflect the issues.  The aim was to sentence on the day.

John explained that morale amongst his officers was at rock bottom.  He hope that there would be a more positive view in the future but he was not sure that would be the case.

Sodexo was agreed as the service provider by the Ministry of Justice and it was known that there would be a reduction in employees, an increase in IT and an increase in private sector providers.

John explained that further discussions are taking place regarding drug testing and it was hoped that it would be possible to reinstate the previous agreement with the County Council as the current situation was not acceptable.  The links between drugs and alcohol and violence were established and an increasing trend of violence linked to drug use.

Members were advised that audit of BeNCH takes place almost every week to the point of being excessive.  This despite being told that they would be free of bureaucratic constraint.

His team was looking at new and innovative ways to improve the system such as a programme working with women who were subject to domestic abuse.  Another programme working with perpetrators had been piloted and, as successful, would be rolled out across the county.

Work was also ongoing on a pre-court programme for abusers and partnership work was being done on restorative projects.

Members thanked John for providing information and updating them from the perspective of the service provider.

NOTED the report.