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Probation chief attacks failings in the wake of student murders
Martin Bentham, Home Affairs Editor05.06.09
Fresh concerns about the monitoring of freed offenders in London were raised today after a new report into the capital's probation service warned of “frankly disappointing” standards in performance.
The report, by the Government's chief inspector of probation Andrew Bridges, found half of the public protection work carried out in Lewisham and Greenwich — the area where released convict Dano Sonnex brutally murdered two French students — is below the required standard.
Among the most striking findings are that there are “worrying shortcomings” in the risk assessments carried out on offenders, with probation staff often failing to track down missing information or check a convict's record with law enforcement agencies.
There is a repeated failure to update such risk assessments to reflect offenders' changing circumstances and a lack of management oversight in more than 80 per cent of “high risk” cases studied — meaning key decisions are often taken by more junior staff.
The report further highlights a litany of other weaknesses, including outdated computer systems, high rates of sick leave, and an excessive focus on meeting targets, making it harder for front line staff to do their jobs.
The findings will fuel the debate about the effectiveness of London Probation following heavy criticism of the service in the wake of yesterday's conviction of Dano Sonnex and Nigel Farmer for the murder of French students Laurent Bonomo and Gabriel Ferez in June last year.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw admitted after the trial the killings would never have happened if Sonnex, who should have been under close supervision after his release from an eight-year jail sentence for a series of violent crimes, had been properly dealt with by probation and the police and returned to custody before he was able to carry out the murders.
The report, the first in a series of investigations into London Probation in the wake of the New Cross murders, was based on an analysis of 68 cases in Lewisham and Greenwich and focused on the way offenders' risk of harm to others was managed and controlled.
Unveiling the findings, Mr Bridges, said although efforts to improve standards were underway, the conclusions had shown significant weaknesses. “The results were frankly disappointing. We judged only half of the public protection work we examined was of the sufficiently high level of quality we were looking for,” he said. The report adds that “far too many” risk assessments carried out on offenders were completed late so some were managed for months without a proper understanding of the danger they posed to the public. There was a failure to “seek missing information” or make “appropriate checks with other agencies”, while some inadequate assessments were signed off.
And “insufficient management” was found in seven out of eight cases where risk assessments had been carried out on offenders who pose a potential danger to children.
Reader views (13)
The contrast between the faces of the victims and the animals that committed the crime says it all. They need much tougher sentences in the UK. people who commit crimes like this should get the death penalty or be locked up for the rest of their lives with no possibility of parole.
- Jenny, san francisco ca ( ex-londoner)
"The Sonnex family was feared across south London. Bernie Sonnex, the father, has 47 convictions, including drugs and firearms offences and has been jailed six times.
"Dano's older brother Bernie junior — described by Dano as “very violent” — has been jailed 10 times for 34 offences."
"Their sister Louise was jailed for three years in 2004 for glassing a drinker in a pub and is serving a five-year sentence for beating the father's new girlfriend with a golf club"
Can anyone see the deliberate mistake?
Scum breeding Scum
we need the death penalty back pronto and the reintroduction of hard labour prison terms.
- Kedge, marlboro wilts
I was a Probation Officer for 18 years and nothing has changed - it just hasn't been publicised before. At one time when Jack Straw was in the same position years ago - he made us give a letter with a yellow sticker for the first failed appointment and a red one for the next - it cost a bomb in stickers. Unfortunately when the "client" was returned to Court, they were only given a smacked hand and told to pay £35 costs. The paperwork involved cost an arm and a leg and precious time when we could have been seeing someone else. As for recalling someone back to prison - it takes a mountain of paperwork and many, many phone calls - it is far easier to Section someone than to recall them to Prison....
- Mary, North West England
Surely the "government" clearly responsible for this should resign or be pushed out?!
- Georgie, Islington, London
Same old mob pass the buck all these people should be banged up with the vilains, Time for some ROPE?
- Richard Edmunds, Rayleigh Essex
This is an appalling story of the government's failure to put the very basics of public services in order. Jack Straw must go. Quietly and immediately.
- Bloke, London
I worked in David Scotts regime in West Sussex in the 199os nothing has canged excpt two innocent young boys are horribly tortured and murdered. If CPOs and ACPOs had stood up years ago for their staff and shouted from the rooftops the dangers and failing of this system instead of protecting their own backs, there might have been a chance for this service to survive. It cannot do so now in its present form. Training, staff levels,adequate supervision of caseload levels, proper funding and a judiciary permitted to sentence appropriately,and above all, protection of the public might have saved those young men. As it is, I hope their poor parents expose the chaos and rotteness at the heart of the justice system.And please, someone care for that poor kid, 9 months in post, with a case load of 127 - hope her Senior PO is without a job now, and I hope she will receive the support that I and several others never did during our time with the service.
- Hampshire 1, Portsmouth U.K.
".. after being freed early .."
A Labour policy I have condemned time and time again.
A broken government implementing broken policies for broken systems resulting in a broken society.
PS - Life should mean life, not eligible for release in a few years time.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
As an ex probation officer, I can speak honestly and say that the service is not fit for purpose. Change is impossible, it should be laid to rest.
- Victor, London
I agree with you Peter H. This is just another example of public sector Britain not working. When are people going to be made truly accountable for their poor performance in terms of sackings and removal of pensions. "No reward for failure" should be more than a soundbite uttered by devious politician.
If we have to live in a socialist state masquerading as a democracy. Let us go the whole way and take a leaf from China's rule book and start executing officials that fail or ar corrupt, yes politicians first. Then maybe we might just recover.
- Harry H, London UK
Looks like justice isn't your strong point eh Jack? As well as accountancy!
- Chris, Brighton, England
It's always someone else's job to do it, isn't it. Why won't these people actually stand up and be counted and actually take responsibility for their very important jobs for which they are being paid out of the taxpayer's pockets? And why oh why isn't the government (if you can call it that) doing something about it. Seems to me they always tackle the easy options first i.e. good honest citizens and forget about the dangerous ones as they are too much like hard work.... we must be the laughing stock of the world.
My sincere and heartfelt sympathies go out to both the victim's families - we're sorry our system failed your boys.
- Julie Higgins, Leicestershire, UK
Oh dear. The police won't police, the nurses won't nurse, the teachers won't teach and now the probation officers won't live up to their responsibilities to protect the public. And these are all public services, PUBLIC services, after 12 years of a labour government. What greater condemnation could there be.
- Peter Haldane, London
