Courage in the face of adversity – Ian Lawrence Writes

As the world prepares to say bon voyage to Nelson Mandela it’s worth reflecting on just one of his many attributes compared with the attitudes displayed by some senior figures in the Conservative Party (one still alive and one fairly recently dead) who in the halcyon days of their youth never had a decent word to say about the man; and their support for those who proclaimed that he was not only a terrorist but one who should have been hung.

Perhaps Mandela might at least once, have harboured the same thoughts about those who sentenced him to a quarter of a century behind prison bars; but if he did it never showed once he was eventually released.

It’s a pretty impossible task to add much more to the many eulogies that have already been expressed about him; yet the one thing that has always inspired me is the sheer courage that he displayed when it would have been all too easy to throw in the towel and accept the fate that others had imposed upon him.

A read across to the campaign of intimidation and disinformation being waged against Probation by Chris Grayling and his still ever growing army of civil servants, spin doctors and now we hear in addition, Ernst and Young Consultancy (who the Taxpayer will subsidise to the tune of around £1000 per day per consultant so that they give the answers that their paymaster wants to hear), is creating massive despondency and outright despair judging by the feedback we have been receiving.

The great man to whom we now bid farewell, probably never knew about our probation service, but drawing down on just an ounce or two of his fortitude and resolve ought to encourage us all to stand firm in the face of persecution.

That letter and what you think about it.

Here are a summary of two of the many responses that have come my way following the ‘Comfort Letter’ issued by Grayling to all Probation staff last week:

From Northumbria Branch Member Keith Stafford:

‘Probation staff on a day-to-day basis, comes into contact with the horrors, the grief, the sadness, the hopelessness, the despair, of our society. They do their work without complaint, quietly, professionally, and with High levels of professionalism.

Do probation staff have very high moral values and beliefs? Oh yes.
Do probation staff possess high levels of professional ethics and principles? Oh yes.Are probation staff dedicated, trustworthy, and conscientious? Oh yes. Do they possess a spirit and desire to assist, advise and befriend to facilitate people to rehabilitate? Oh yes. Are they effective in their work and is this supported by empirical evidence and research? Oh yes. Do probation staff take their public service seriously? Oh yes.

Then Mr Grayling, that is why they are so hurt by the way they are being treated by you and the MOJ. The issuing of letters is an insult; the lack of information to inform choice is an insult; the speed of the TR process is an insult; the not providing research/evidence to support your views is an insult; not understanding and appreciating the outstanding public servants that you and the MOJ have available to you is an insult.

TR is not an evolution, which by definition takes over many years. This is a fast track destruction of a world renowned service that works. Political vandalism of the most vicious order.

Oh yes Mr Grayling, that’s why probation staff are upset.  Being pro-social and motivational is what every member of probation does in their daily lives. Possessing a sound moral compass to demonstrate to service users that the notions of honesty, trust, respect and integrity are valued by our society, not greed, not envy, not lies, not dishonesty, not selfishness.’

And this from a retired Napo member:

I am long retired (1984), so reading in Horror the ideological attack being made, introducing the 3rd sector. I will write to my MP and do my best to attend any protests in my local area.  Wishing you all the best in your struggle. I agree there must be light at end of the tunnel surely no government would take such a risk with public safety. Continuity is so important to life sentence prisoners. The MoJ must be our natural allies, as they will clearly see the public danger. All the best in your campaign; I will follow it with much interest.

Still here and they had better believe it

Yes, events over the last fortnight have been pretty bleak but there is little room for our opponents to become even more smug than normal. Elsewhere, you will see how our parliamentary and political campaign is progressing and how we are exploring every available avenue in terms of the potential for a legal challenge as Unison belatedly but welcomingly join the dispute.

Napo members are made of hardy stuff; they need to be do their job and go about facilitating the positive changes that can be made to people’s lives; a skill that Grayling intends to sell off like some common commodity.
 As we hear more and more news about the myriad problems that threaten to engulf this TR project and the serious doubts that there will even be a commercial market in place by the end of 2014, it’s as good a time as any to remind ourselves that bigger schemes than this, sponsored by politically more astute politicians than this Secretary of State, have come a cropper before.

Seasonal greetings

Whatever your faith, or not as the case may be, I want to take this opportunity as we approach the winter holiday to thank you all for your continuing support for Napo and for that which you have shown to me personally during a year which has tested all of us to the full.
 Enjoy the break alongside your family, friends and loved ones and let’s return in 2014 with a renewed spirit of resistance in defence of all that we hold to be true and believe in.