Commenting on justice secretary Shabana Mahmood’s announcement today (Friday) that thousands of prisoners will be released early to ease pressure on overcrowded prisons, UNISON head of probation Ben Priestley said:
“The probation service will be crucial to delivering this early release scheme because these individuals will need supervision. But the service isn’t adequately resourced for this at present.
“Probation staff will be worried and fearful about the impact on their existing heavy workloads and soaring stress levels. Investment in this area is key to fixing the crisis in the justice system.
“Given the importance of the probation workforce to the success of this new approach, the new government must look again at reopening the current three-year pay deal as a matter of urgency.
“Doing so would show ministers understand the difficult circumstances staff are facing, like their colleagues within the prison system.”
