Charley Allan, from the Justice Unions Parliamentary Group (JUPG), gives us a rare behind-the-scenes look at how Napo and its fellow justice unions influence Parliament — not through shouting the loudest, but through clever, constant pressure.
So, what is the JUPG?
“It’s basically a collection of MPs and peers… who are all sympathetic broadly to the campaigns and concerns of justice unions,” Charley explained. Supported by Napo, POA, PCS, UCU, and the Police Federation, the JUPG is a powerful cross-party forum covering the whole criminal justice system — “from arrest to trial, incarceration to release.”
The group exists to spotlight workers’ issues in Parliament — from impossible workloads and chronic underfunding to big-picture reform. As Charley put it: “We’re pushing the case for a standalone probation service… Probation is so important. It needs to be its own standalone service.”
What does the JUPG actually do?
The group isn’t just talk. It turns union campaigns into political action. Charley described the work: “It’s my job to send emails to group members, asking them to come to meetings, or sending briefings — explaining why Napo is concerned about an issue and what we think the solution is.”
That includes:
- Coordinating Parliamentary Questions (especially at Justice Questions every five weeks)
- Drafting written questions (which Charley calls “like mini Freedom of Information requests”)
- Helping MPs raise issues in debates
- Connecting ministers and MPs with union reps
This quiet political organising leads to real results — sometimes even heading off damaging policies before they reach the public.
Cross-party, quietly powerful
Though co-chaired by Plaid Cymru’s Liz Saville Roberts and Labour peer Lord Tony Woodley, the group isn’t party-political. “We have active Conservative members… It’s not just about government support — it’s about parliamentary pressure.”
With over 100 MPs and peers signed up, JUPG is a rare example of cross-party unity — all pushing for a fairer justice system. Charley added: “They’re not all super active, but they’re the core of our support in Parliament.”
The current landscape: new faces, old barriers
Charley acknowledged the shift with the new Labour-led government. “There’s real recognition of what a state of crisis both prisons and probation are in.”
But the challenge is deeper than party politics. “The top brass in the MoJ is basically the same people that have been running things for the last ten, fifteen years… there’s a kind of natural resistance to meaningful change.”
That’s why the JUPG’s work — and Napo voices — matter more than ever. “The more MPs who are asking for change, the stronger the minister’s hand when they go back to their department and say, ‘No, come up with better options.’”
Looking ahead: challenges and opportunities
The next 6–12 months are set to be busy. With a raft of criminal justice reviews expected — on sentencing, homicide, Crown Courts and more — Charley believes there’s potential for real progress… and backlash.
“If [the recommendations] are good, they’ll be worth defending… We need to be ready to step up and say, actually, this is the right thing to do.”
He also highlighted a growing joint campaign on morale and retention across prison, probation and police staff. “The morale is at rock bottom… If you’ve got poor pay and terms and conditions, your retention’s going to be low. It’s just basic trade union stuff.”
What can members do?
One of Charley’s clearest calls was for members to talk to their MPs.
“If members could just reach out to their local MP and say, ‘I’m a probation officer, I’m one of your constituents, can we talk about how bad things have got’ — it makes such a difference.”
Why? Because, as Charley said, most MPs simply don’t realise how bad things are until they’re told directly.
The JUPG is your bridge to power. Its work is not always understood, but it’s vital. And with political space opening — however slowly — now’s the time to raise your voice and help push for the change the system so desperately needs.
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