CHRIS GRAYLING’S “obsession” with privatisation has “all but destroyed the probation service,” the head of the offender rehabilitation union has said.
Ian Lawrence, general secretary of probation officers’ union Napo, told the POA conference yesterday: “We need a massive change of emphasis from this government … and ultimately a complete change in the political complexion of government to finally bring an end to the shambles of privatisation.”
Serial bungler and current Transport Secretary Mr Grayling part-privatised the service in 2014 when he was justice secretary in a move that outsourced the monitoring of lower-risk offenders.
Our members face serious violence, crumbling workplaces and exposure to dangerous drugs — it is outrageous we still cannot legally use our industrial muscle to fight back and defend ourselves, writes STEVE GILLAN
Mental health fears push Peers to change law on IPP torture sentences, reports Charley Allan
Ben Chacko talks to RMT leader EDDIE DEMPSEY about how the key to fixing broken Britain lies in collective sectoral bargaining, restoring unions’ ability to take solidarity strike action and bringing about the much-vaunted ‘wave of insourcing’


