Across the probation service, reports of abusive, threatening and violent behaviour are on the rise. Verbal attacks, threats to kill and physical assaults are becoming far too common culminating in serious incidents in Preston over the summer and, more recently, in Oxford.
Unmanageable workloads, ongoing staff shortages, and long-standing recruitment and retention issues are driving the crisis and making safe practice harder and harder. Staff are being pushed past reasonable limits but are still expected to protect the public — and themselves — in an environment where the risks keep rising and the support just isn’t there.
Senior leaders often say that “action has been taken”, but people on the frontline regularly tell us that they don’t feel any safer.
Flaws exposed by the Preston incident
The Preston incident shook the entire service. Staff expected a serious, transparent investigation that would quickly lead to real improvements. Instead, months later, those expectations have been replaced by frustration.
Despite repeated assurances, the investigation report everyone was waiting for never arrived for some considerable time after the event. A RIDDOR report was completed and we await views from the Health and Safety Executive . Early on, Napo was told that urgent actions were underway: a review of all GRAs, a survey of lone-working devices, reception screens and other basic equipment, and property visits to look at secure interview rooms and other safety upgrades.
None of this has happened.
Instead, staff directly affected at the Preston Office were invited to a meeting at Diadem House and given a verbal run-through of the investigation findings and some vague “possible” recommendations. With no written report and no timeline, the safety of those in Preston – and across the service – were left in limbo.
This was not a “one-off”
The lack of follow-through has left many members wondering if the employer views Preston as a single incident rather than part of a deeper, structural problem. That fear only grew after the attack on a staff member in Oxford. The two cases may not be linked geographically, but together they show a workforce facing daily risks without the protections they need.
In many places, nothing has changed since the Preston attack. Promised site visits still haven’t happened. Members tell us they feel forgotten and increasingly unsafe.
The Oxford assault has triggered yet another investigation, but the pattern is clear. These are not isolated events; they’re signs of a service under enormous strain.
What frontline staff need now isn’t another review. They need action. What we can say is that since the Oxford incident is that unions and senior management have responded quickly to demonstrate support and recognise the understandable concerns of staff.
Napo is working with all of the victims directly affected by the dreadful incidents in Preston and Oxford and have offered them our full support.
Seven pilot areas is a step forward, but still no detail
The employer’s idea of seven pilot sites for enhanced health and safety measures could be a step in the right direction, if implemented properly. Sadly, as can be seen from a letter from the unions to the Chief Probation Officer the level of communication in terms of notifying the trade unions and staff about the pilots such as detail about which areas, what measures, how they’ll be tested, or when anything will actually change on the ground.
Napo welcomes any attempt to improve safety, but clarity and urgency are essential. We believe the foregoing to be a clear breach of the agreed professional protocols between unions and the employer.
The unions will be attending the weekly Probation Safety Working Group meetings which got underway yesterday, to take our members concerns directly to HMPPS decision makers. Once we have more detail about the pilots your Link Officers and Officials will be in touch with Napo Branches to agree how consultation should take place with Regional Managers.
You cannot defer safety
Our members are clear: the situation is no longer sustainable. Health and safety can’t be something the employer gets round to once workloads improve or when budgets look better. Staff are facing real, immediate risks, and the slow, inconsistent response so far is leaving people exposed.
Probation professionals deserve more than warm words. They deserve safe workplaces, reliable equipment, proper processes and the confidence that the organisation responsible for public protection is just as committed to protecting its own staff.
Napo will keep pushing for concrete, accountable action. Our members cannot and will not wait any longer.
2 responses
Attention needs to be given to front doors, staff entrances and exits, where probation is located within HMCTS buildings, eg Bradford City Courts. Door person/usher/security at front doors and in waiting areas.Signage is important re security , health and safety messages. Reception staff training is required.
I recently joined community payback, and was told I needed to collect a group on my own and transport them to another site. I voiced my concerns about this since I had no work phone, no iPad, no lone working device, and was told, “oh it almost never happens when you pick up, besides you have a phone” meaning my personal phone.