Quack Quack, Paddle Paddle, Strike Strike!

"The Ugly Duckling" is a literary fairy tale by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Anderson(1805 – 1875). The story tells of a little bird born in a barnyard who suffers abuse from the others around him until, much to his delight (and to the surprise of others), he matures into a beautiful swan, the most beautiful bird of all. The story is loved by many around the world as a tale about personal transformation for the better

My Probation colleagues could relate with this in regards to the plans of Transforming Rehabilitation because In original story the "ugly duckling" was really a cygnet but nobody realised, and although the Probation Trusts are a quality service which has served this nation well, the Moj and NOMS have failed to recognise this, and have abused staff and their service. Like the other ducklings in the story, the MoJ and NOMS have acted without good evidence and too little knowledge.

Now on that slant probation workers might be able relate with the story. However, Transforming Rehabilitation trainers in my Probation Trust have come up with an novel slant to the story. During a Transforming Rehabilitation briefing this week, an analogy was given of the journey staff will we make from Trusts to CRC/NPS over the period from April to June. The trainer painted the picture of a fast flowing river with two banks. The ugly ducklings leave one bank ( 1st April into shadow CRC/NPS) and paddle, paddle paddle to get to the other side. Some of the ducks will get to the other side easier than the others, we were told. But once they get to the other side (CRC/NPS June 1st) they will become like beautiful swans! To be fair the briefing was quite informative, but the analogy was difficult to relate with - and as a colleague remarked, "more like sinking ships than paddling ducklings!"

HMS Probation

Anyway, I reckon I might be a duckling with a paddling defect and stability problems. I left NAPO last month and rejoined this month. I wont go into the negatives, but the positive is that I needed to be part of the Strike action on the 31st March and 1st April, as I'm struggling to become a beautiful swan. I filled out the NAPO registration form: Have you been a member of NAPO previously - "Yes". When - "Last Month";o) Oh well! I'm still in the water of transforming rehabilitation and the privatisation of a quality Service which has served this nation well - Quack Quack, Paddle Paddle.

Or rather, Quack Quack, Paddle Paddle, Strike Strike! - because Privatisation means:

1. Less Protection for the Public.

Privatisation mean Court cases being abandoned and criminals walking free due to cutbacks

Privatisation means Prisons being under staffed and prisoners coming out worse then they went in.

Privatisation means Probation Trusts are being sold off even though they have served this country well. Even though their record is first class in regards to public protection. Even though the experts have advised the Government against this.

The Daily Mirror previously reported, "Plans to sell off the Probation Service will put the public at “very high risk” of harm, a secret official report reveals.

The findings – previously leaked to the Sunday Mirror – say more criminals will reoffend if private firms and charities are put in charge of their rehabilitation.

The Probation Association report claims Justice Minister Chris Grayling’s privatisation, being rushed through before 2015, will result in “poorer outcomes for victims, communities and offenders” and an overall “higher risk to the public”.

2. Less Money for the Public.

Privatisation means more Fats Cats and they don't come cheap with their wage rises, bonuses and "greed is good" mantra!

Privatisation means Corporation overcharging the Public Purse by over £24 million, and now the Serious Fraud Office are in investigating this loss.

Privatisation means Corporations being able to evade tax on their earnings with more loss from the public purse.

Privatisation has meant gas, water, electricity and rail has prices have continued to rise and Government seems powerless to act.

3. Less Democracy for the Public.

Privatisation means Companies being Accountable to Shareholders rather than the general public.

We are all aware of the saying, “The tail wagging the dog” and I think that we are becoming more and more aware that the big Corporations are now wagging this Government.

Privatisation is moving away from the Government being run by the people, for the people.

Privatisation means that the Public has less voice, less input  and less democracy.  

Privatisation means selling out to global companies and we are becoming like tenants in our own country.

4. Less Workers for our Communities.

The Government has previously spoken about Probation’s privatisation as being a Evolution, which has been worked on for a long time.

But make no mistake it’s a Revolution to British workers, who have give good service to this country, who are being undermined, or dispensed with.

Jane Street and associate director in the NHS said that “Privatisation means the same staff do the same job for less money, through an expensive process. Wasteful and unnecessary”

All this will  simply allow for the Rich to get Richer and the Government to get more donations from grateful corporations who receive contracts! 

So, Quack Quack, Paddle Paddle, Strike Strike - The barristers/solicitors - criminal bar took to the streets and had their say last week about criminal justice reforms, and at the end of the month Probation Officers will have the same opportunity! Chris Grayling's plans for the criminal justice may be a transformation, but to workers and experts alike, it's certainly not a beautiful one, or even a positive one!