If You Are Going To Pretend To Do Something, Then, At Least, Do That

Monday, May 27, 2013 9:00 AM

Suffolk: Outrage [yawn] after sex offenders have treatment delayed for six months due to staff sickness

"Suffolk’s police commissioner and one of the county’s MPs have both expressed their disbelief after discovering a treatment programme for sex offenders was delayed for six months.

Probation officers have said the course was deferred due to staff sickness. However, during the six-month delay one of the offenders - convicted paedophile [sic] Daniel Veness - sexually abused a five-year-old girl.

Although Veness’ case was reported last month, a Freedom of Information request has now revealed five other convicts [sic] were also due to be on the Thames Valley Treatment Programme at the same time.

The admission has led Waveney MP Peter Aldous to brand the situation as unacceptable, while Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore called it “absolutely ridiculous”.

However, Norfolk and Suffolk Probation Service said there was no specific requirement as to how quickly someone should begin the treatment, only that they should complete it by the end of their sentence."

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/crime/anger_over_suffolk_sex_offenders_treatment_delay_1_2211151

Suffolk: Outrage [yawn] after sex offenders have treatment delayed for six months due to staff sickness

http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/suffolk_outrage_after_sex_offenders_have_treatment_delayed_for_six_months_due_to_staff_sickness_1_2211060

*****

Convicted paedophile [sic], 23, attacked a sleeping five-year-old girl after his sex offenders treatment was cancelled

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2311527/Convicted-paedophile-23-attacked-sleeping-year-old-girl-sex-offenders-treatment-cancelled.html

Convicted paedophile [sic] abused girl, 5, after probation rehab course delayed due to holiday

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/convicted-paedophile-abused-girl-5-1842635

Suffolk: Sex offender commits horrific attack [sic] on child - after his treatment was cancelled due to ‘lack of resources’

http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/suffolk_sex_offender_commits_horrific_attack_on_child_after_his_treatment
_was_cancelled_due_to_lack_of_resources_1_2086188

Chris Grayling Has Another Brain Fart

9:20PM BST 08 May 2013

All prisoners face a year of supervision upon release

"Low-level criminals who spend a few weeks or months in prison will be supervised for a year in the community after their release in an attempt to cut “shameful levels” of reoffending, the Justice Secretary will announce.

All prisoners face a year of supervision upon release.

In an article for the Daily Telegraph, Mr Grayling describes the current system as 'mad'.

Every prisoner will have to complete a year-long period of supervision that will see them returned to jail if they misbehave, under laws to toughen up the probation regime.

The plans were outlined in a Rehabilitation Bill contained in today’s Queen’s Speech. The details of the legislation will be disclosed tomorrow by Chris Grayling. It will include a pledge to introduce so-called “resettlement prisons” to relocate inmates nearing release closer to their homes.

The “rehabilitation revolution” will involve about 65,000 criminals every year being subject to lengthy community supervision — in addition to their prison sentences."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/10045362/All-prisoners-face-a-year-of-supervision-upon-release.html

Queen's Speech: Probation 'extended to all offenders'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22446246

Payment-by-results plan for offender supervision under fire

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22452239

It Is How They Operate

Thursday 21 March 2013 15.24 GMT

Probation officers face social media gag as outsourcing row rumbles on

"Justice secretary tells staff they risk disciplinary action if they publicly 'undermine' plan to outsource their work with offenders

Probation officers have been warned that failure to comply with the social media gag could result in suspension.

The justice secretary, Chris Grayling, has issued instructions that probation officers face the risk of disciplinary action if they publicly criticise on Twitter or other social media his plans to outsource 70% of their work with offenders.

The wide-ranging gag includes "any comments that are made in criticism or designed to undermine the justice secretary's policy or actions", and even warns that retweeting others' comments will be taken as "incitement or approval".

The ban was announced by Michael Spurr, the chief executive of the national offender management service, which runs prisons and probation, in a recent teleconference call with probation trust chief executives.

"He advised that the government are unhappy with CEOs and other senior managers being critical of government policy, regarding Transforming Rehabilitation on Twitter," said one probation trust senior manager.

"He told them to behave like civil servants as they are being paid by the government. So much for free speech and democracy. It seems government policy cannot be questioned in public arenas. I am furious that staff and managers are effectively being gagged in asking questions and objecting to the direction of travel.""

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/mar/21/probation-officers-social-media-gag-outsourcing