Small window of opportunity for one last push in our campaign with MP's.

The Offender Rehabilitation Bill is due back in the House of commons for report stage and third reading on Tuesday 14th January. We have now just a small window of opportunity for one last push in our campaign with MP's. As such we are asking all members to e-mail their MP's today, on mass. It's easy to do, I've just done mine and it took about 5 minutes.

Please note that as an employee of a Trust you cannot use your gsi e-mail so please use a smart phone or stand alone PC to access your personal e-mail account.

How to contact your MP

Go to http://www.parliament.co.uk

Click on MP's, Lords and Offices

On the right hand side, enter your postcode You will then see your MP's details.

Click on their name and their contact details including their e-mail address will come up

What to say

"The Offender Rehabilitation Bill is due back in the House of Commons on Tuesday 14th January. As a constituent and a member of Probation staff I am writing to ask you to vote against this Bill. Whilst I welcome the opportunity for those receiving under 12 months custody to receive interventions to reduce their risk of re-offending, the cost of this to the public will be significant. In order to pay for this intervention the Government is proposing to sell off 70% of the currently high performing Probation Service. I have real concerns that such a reform will lead to a fragmented Criminal Justice system that will not be able to protect the public as efficiently as it currently does. The current Probation Service is well placed and experienced with working with difficult clients and would therefore be the best agency to work with the under 12 months community. However, Probation trusts are not being allowed to bid for the work. Please vote against the Bill and ask the Secretary of State to pilot his ideas first so that it can be evaluated and evidence can be provided to show that the reforms are effective, workable and affordable before there is a national roll out."

Tania Bassett

National Official
Press Parliament and Campaigns