Archive: Probation

Clarke promises to end probation service "bean-counting" culture

The time spent by frontline probation staff on administration is a "concern" say MPs

Ken Clarke has weighed into the probation debate with a vow to end the "bean-counting culture" within the service.

Campaigners demand end to 'hostile takeover' of probation service

Reid: Probation service not working well

Sketch: Swivelling Clarke practices his turning

Probation officers 'will strike' over prison cuts

Irony: The union warns that probation cuts will undermine Ken Clarke's reform of the MoJ

The union of probation officers has threatened "inevitable" strikes if planned cuts of 25% go ahead.

Campaigners demand end to 'hostile takeover' of probation service

Locked up: The merger of prison and probation staff triggered a clash of cultures, opponents claim

Campaigners have seized on a report by the probation officers' union to demand an end to a government experiment merging prison and probation management.

PM defends prisoner early release

Gordon Brown repeatedly defended the prisoner early release scheme today amid accusations from the Conservatives that violent offenders have been released early.

Straw: More prison cells are not the answer

Straw calls for national conversation on prisons

Justice secretary Jack Straw has called for a national conversation about the use of prison, after warning it will not be possible to build a way out of the prison crisis.

MPs point to strain of prison overcrowding

The prison overcrowding crisis is causing more prisoners to undergo inappropriate rehabilitation, opposition politicians have claimed.

Baptism of fire for new Ministry of Justice

Lord Falconer handed overcrowded prison service

The newly formed Ministry of Justice came into being today, assuming control for prisons and probation from a Home Office split amid claims it was "not fit for purpose".

Split will make Home Office fit for modern world

The Home Office is to concentrate on security and counter-terrorism, creating a slimmer department to "meet the challenges of today's world", the home secretary confirmed today.

Government wins probation victory

Govt moves to 'privatise' probation service

The government has won a vote on privatising parts of the probation service.

Reid orders bail hostel review

Home secretary John Reid has launched an 'urgent review' into bail hostels

There will be an urgent review of bail hostel procedures after undercover reporters revealed convicted paedophiles were left at liberty to re-offend.

Reid: Probation service not working well

The probation service is not working as well as it should, John Reid has said

The probation service is not working as well as it should and in some areas its performance is not up to standard, home secretary John Reid has said.

Justice watchdog merger plans scrapped

John Reid scraps plans for merged criminal justice watchdogs

The government has scrapped controversial plans to merge five criminal justice watchdogs after peers overwhelmingly rejected them last week.

Tagged offenders commit 1,000 crimes

Report reveals 1,000 crimes committed by offenders on home detention curfew

The government has been accused of a "shocking disregard for public safety" after news that prisoners on curfew have committed more than 1,000 violent offences.

Lords reject merged justice watchdog

Lords reject government plans to merge police, probation and courts inspectors

Peers last night overwhelmingly rejected government plans to merge the prison, police, prosecution, probation and courts watchdogs into a single chief inspector.

Police cells to ease prison overcrowding

John Reid announces new measures to deal with prison overcrowding

Criminals will be held in police cells in an emergency measure introduced to deal with a bursting prison population, John Reid has announced.

Criminal age 'should be raised to 14'

Youth justice expert calls for age of criminal responsibility to be raised

The age of criminal responsibility should be raised to 14 and new prosecutors appointed with the aim of keeping children out of jail, an expert has recommended.

Shoplifters 'should escape jail'

Sentencing advisory panel suggests shoplifters should not be jailed

Shoplifters should only be sent to jail if they used violence during their crime, the Sentencing Advisory Panel has recommended.

Blair goes on offensive over prison row

Tony Blair defends government against claims of being soft on crime

Tony Blair hits back at David Cameron during another prime minister's questions dominated by rows about law and order.

Home Office denies prisoner early release plans

Home Office rejects claims of secret early release plans

The Home Office has been forced to deny claims that plans are being drawn up to release thousands of prisoners early if Britain's jails become too full.