Probation officers expected to support strikes

PROBATION officers gathering in Yorkshire today are poised to vote for strike action as fears grow that savage cuts in public spending will lead to rising crime.

The union Napo, preparing for its annual conference in Scarborough, says slashing the Probation Service budget by 25 per cent would force courts to hand down more short jail terms.

Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke wants to reduce the prison population by giving more offenders community orders, but the union claims that funding cuts could scupper those plans.

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Members believe courts would be forced to impose short prison terms if fewer resources were available for community orders.

In August the Yorkshire Post revealed there were fears within the Probation Service that cuts would cause crime levels to soar because petty criminals might be monitored less closely.

Napo's assistant general secretary, Harry Fletcher, said it was inevitable probation officers would vote to strike and might act with other unions.

"The immediate effect will be redundancies, fewer court reports recommending non-custodial options, and a rise in the short-term prison population," he said.

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"Napo members are committed to the concepts of rehabilitation and protecting the public but these aims will be compromised when the cuts take place."

A Ministry of Justice spokes-man said: "Public protection is one of our main priorities and there is no evidence to suggest that savings made to the Probation Service will compromise this or increase crime."

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