Author Archives: Sandra James

Opinion: The Justice Secretary has got it wrong on privatisation of probation services

Why do governments always assume that they will save money by privatising the public sector?  The Probation Service is now in Chris Grayling’s sights with his plan to hive off low risk offenders to charities and private enterprise leaving the rump Probation Service to concentrate on high risk offenders.

High risk offenders are the sex offenders, domestic violence perpetrators and offenders on indeterminate sentences whose risk prior to release from custody is subject to constant review. As a former probation officer this was my bread and butter work – and incredibly stressful it was too.

I understand that under the Coalition …

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged and | 11 Comments
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Recent Comments

  • Peter Hirst
    Private ownership and full nationalisation are the two extremes of the possibilities for ownerhship of services delivered for a community with a variable monop...
  • Neil Sandison
    Paul Barker has hit the nail on the head .We are increasingly a party of older people fighting old battles . That there will be a younger electorate at the next...
  • David Allen
    “We have a crisis of democracy which is manifesting itself in increasing support for extremists" Point wrongly put, I think. The rise of Farage, and the t...
  • Peter Hirst
    Concepts around money and wealth vary depending on how much you've got. To some it's about survival, to others a transactional process that empowers and liberat...
  • Nick Hopkinson
    Thank you for writing this Paul. It is important to try to demystify Burnham’s policies. I understand he is going to give a major speech next week....