Probation officers have very valid grievances. I have no idea where the vote will go but the consequences of a strike are enormous. I’m assuming HMPPS has contingency plans in place which ministers have approved. Journalists might want to ask what they are.

Today we may learn the result of the Napo the Union strike ballot - if probation officers do decide to take industrial action it will pile pressure on the government, particularly with the sentencing review legislation being brought next month.

Homeless and Hungry #probation #prison probationmatters.blogspot.com/2025/08/homele…

The NAPO ballot result is disappointing. No one else is going to fight for your pay or your conditions except you. Do not expect the government to treat you fairly just reflect on what you have experienced over the past 3-5 years and the changes yet to come.

Ballot Result #probation #prison probationmatters.blogspot.com/2025/08/ballot…

Jim Brown I’ve lost count how many times I’ve fed, clothed, listened and shopped for the people we work with - stand proud & we need to keep probations real values . I won’t change !!

Jim Brown It seems I'm one of the few with a good Probation Officer I regularly go on holiday once I've provided the address of where I'm staying I've missed appointments and had heated debates with my Officer no recalls, Now I volunteer as a Lived Experience Mentor with Probation

Jim Brown And the fallout from that approach is destroying any working relationship with the individual, across the board. Then you can no longer assess risk as we won't disclose anything. You play your games, we play ours but nothing improves.

Jim Brown I recall being told by a probationee that their PO told them, ‘ My manager is asking questions because you’re too well-behaved and I never have anything to report.’ To me that spoke volumes.(Along with insisting on a 400m round trip for months until it suited THEM to change.)