A letter from Russell Ward, Action's Chief Executive in response to this article in the Observer.

Nick Cohen’s concerns over the future of the probation service (‘It would be a crime to privatise the probation service,’ Comment, last week,) are shared by a great many people working within Britain’s justice system. However, not everyone agrees that we should abandon reform altogether. Woop.

The proposals that are currently working their way through the Commons will open up the service to involvement by other agencies. This does not, as Cohen suggests, represent a mass sell-off to the private sector and it is equally untrue that there are no other providers of probation services.

There are already countless Community & Voluntary Sector organisations operating in partnership with the statutory bodies to tackle re-offending, homelessness, drug use, anti-social behaviour and so on.

Contrary to Cohen’s assertions these organisations are not Group 4 style private security firms. They tend to be locally based, not-for-profit enterprises with strong links to the communities that they’ve been serving for years. With a long history of working in partnership with probation & other agencies to manage potentially dangerous individuals, these groups have great potential to invigorate the existing probation service, not replace it.

There is, of course, a risk that the large private security firms will move in for the rich pickings of a liberalised probation service. However, that is not the only outcome and we are urging the relevant authorities to ensure there is room for the voluntary sector to share their unique expertise and work more effectively alongside probation within a reformed justice system.

Russell Ward

Chief Executive

Action Housing & Support