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date: Friday 3^rd April 2009

embargo: For immediate release

Unions anxious over the true cost of probation service cuts

The Probation Service is facing a cut of approximately 20% of its budget over the next three years, making the Justice Unions' 10 point Charter for Justice (launched last December) increasingly important and relevant for the uncertain future that lies ahead.

In Northumbria Probation Area (Tyne& Wear and Northumberland) there is a predicted deficit of £1.6 million in the financial year 2009/10.

In real terms this means:

• The loss of 32 posts in 2009/10.

• Napo and Unison estimate a loss of up to 150 posts overall by 2012. This is 20% of the workforce.

• £2.16 million pounds of taxpayers' money has been invested over 2 years to train 24 Probation Officers, who will qualify in September 2009. However, none of the newly qualified staff will be offered Probation Officer posts. Half will be offered posts elsewhere within the service on a temporary contract, twelve will be made unemployed.

• In 2008/9 it cost more money to run NOMs (the National Offender Management Service) than it did to run all of the 42 Probation Areas combined.

• The main responsibility of the Probation Service is to reduce the risk of re-offending and protect the public. Statistics show that crime levels rise during periods of recession. These cuts will therefore impact at a time of rising workloads.

Alan Green from UNISON said 'We seek to ensure that there are no compulsory redundancies; a 'period of reflection process' is introduced to guard against decisions being taken too quickly; that Boards/Trusts have freedom to enhance severance packages and that Boards/Trusts are allowed to carry over deficits to the new financial year to help manage cuts and soften the blow for those affected.'

Megan Elliott from NAPO said 'The primary purpose of the Probation Service is to reduce the risk of reoffending and protect the public from serious harm. Budget and staffing cuts on this scale will inevitably reduce the ability of the Probation Service to carry out this work effectively and safely.'

Kevin Rowan, Northern TUC Regional Secretary said: 'The people who work in the criminal justice system are under intense pressure as the system is just about coping at maximum capacity. There is a mass appreciation for these workers who provide a fundamental and critical service to our democratic and 'just' society, and their valuable contribution should not be underestimated. I would urge those who can affect any changes to take heed of the very real and grave problems brought to them by the people at the sharp end.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

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Contacts:

Media enquiries:

Alan Green, Unison on 07899065431

Shirley Anderson, NAPO on 0191 276 6666

Susanne Nichol T: 0191 227 5553; M: 07771 873108 E: snichol@tuc.org.uk

Press release (600 words) issued 3 Apr 2009