By Vivienne Russell
20 September 2010
Probation officers are warning that looming budget cuts at the Ministry of Justice will fuel an increase in crime.
The National Associationof Probation Officers says probation programmes for offenders will be casualties of the spending squeeze as redundancies in the Probation Service will mean staff will not be available to run them. Many localities will be able to offer only a reduced service, while in other areas programmes will be rationed and offered only to those offenders who pose an imminent risk.
Probation programmes have been available to courts as a condition of supervision since 2003. Through the programmes, professionals work with prolific offenders to address issues such as drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence and sexual offending. Research has shown that participation in such programmes significantly reduces reoffending rates.
Harry Fletcher, assistant general secretary of Napo, said: ‘The gains of the last decade risk being jeopardised because of draconian cuts. The Probation Service will not be able to maintain the same level of service.’
He warned that the numbers of offenders successfully completing programmes could fall from its current level of 40,000 a year to 30,000 by 2012.
‘This will increase reoffending rates and create more victims, particularly of domestic violence. It is ironic that if the programmes are not available, prison will certainly be used by sentencers as an alternative.’
The MoJ is expecting its overall budget to reduce from £9bn to £7bn by 2012.
