Private firms running probation service?

[andrewb]

I havn't read the article myself, but my teacher was reading the times and there was a very small article about letting private firms run the probation service.

I really don't think thats a good thing. You don't need to be trying to make money cuts when you have murderers and rapists concerned.

[flashy]

this sounds similar to when securicor and other companys took over the taking of people to prison (the sweat box thing) would be quite easy to pause as a security person/official in both cases

[grego]

Do you have a link to the article Cyfr?

[Tinkerbelle]

Bloody hell, the Government struggles enough keeping up to date on convicted criminals and sharing important information with other Government agencies without private firms adding to the problems. A disaster waiting to happen IMHO.

[andrewb]

I dont have a link because this wasnt reported in any major way to my knowledge. All there is is this short piece in the times:

Bill scrapes through
David Cameron has failed to throw out a Bill as plans for voluntary groups and private companies to run probation services scraped through in the Commons by 25 votes. The Conservatives, who had previously backed the legislation, joined Labour rebels in opposing the Offender Management Bill.

To me its shocking that such important legislation could get through the commons without the majority of people having any idea.

[accymel]

I honestly cant see it working IMHO theres enough corruption & waste of money going on, besides the law needs to be tougher & consistant!

[cashman]

i know weve gone soft cyfr,but murderers n rapists dont usually get probation,even in the u.k.

[garinda]

With the current state of the probation service, they couldn't do any worse a job than is being done at present.

The recent expose on Panorama showed how easily under the current system dangerous, convicted paedophiles, amongst others, were allowed to associate freely with the sort of people they'd been found guilty of victimising in the first place.

The whole system is warped, and in urgent need of change, if it means private firms rather than civil servants, so be it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6123534.stm

[chav1]

was it group 4 that took over the transport of prisoners and kept loosing them , i recall them collecting a bath from me at work one day and me asking them not to let it run away


bad bad idea they think it will save money which in the long run it wont