Probation service monitoring released prisoners via Skype during coronavirus pandemic, report reveals

MPs urge government to increase support for staff and offenders

Many prisoners are being supervised remotely amid a growing backlog, according to a report by the Justice Select Committee (REUTERS/Denis Balibouse)

Released prisoners are being monitored by Skype and phone calls during the coronavirus pandemic, a parliamentary committee has said.

Almost all offenders are receiving support remotely amid staff shortages and a growing backlog in the provision of unpaid work and rehabilitation programmes, MPs found.

Staff shortages – with around 20 per cent of probation officers in self-isolation at the peak of the outbreak – and office closures left many former prisoners struggling to access help finding accommodation and claiming benefits.

The Justice Select Committee said it was also concerned about “inconsistencies” in how offenders were being supervised by the National Probation Service (NPS) and the private sector Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs).

Offenders were left worried about being recalled to prison while staff felt heightened anxiety about their health and safety, according to the committee report on the impact of coronavirus on probation services.

It comes as the government renationalises the supervision of criminals, bringing it back under the NPS following the failure of Chris Grayling’s “irredeemably flawed” privatisation reforms.

“The coronavirus pandemic has severely affected the probation service at a time when it was already in the throes of its second major restructuring programme in the past five years,” the committee said.

“In addition to its report on the effect of the pandemic, the committee is today launching an inquiry into the latest proposed reforms, which are due to be in place by 2021.”

The committee also urged the government to review the support it was providing and to consider increasing the discharge grant given to prison leavers during the pandemic.

Its report includes evidence from Helen Berresford, director of social justice charity Nacro, about the “incredibly different situation” as a result of Covid-19.

“Almost all support is being provided remotely at the minute, so we need to make sure everybody leaving prison has access to a mobile phone,” she said.

“They will also need to have enough money to get them started. To be honest, they will need some of the essentials like soap, a toothbrush and some basic food and drink to get them through the first few days. They may be released to somewhere they do not know. They may be released having to take public transport – which may or may not be running”.

Justice minister Lucy Frazer told the committee that government was “working very closely” with the charitable sector to support people released from custody.

The committee is now launching a new inquiry into the reforms of the probation service and is due to publish its report in February 2021.

Sir Bob Neill, committee chair said: “We’ll want to know if this new model will work and whether it will be capable of clearing the backlog of probation work caused by the pandemic. We’ll be asking whether private sector providers were consulted about these proposals, whether there were counter-proposals, and how the new model will supply the necessary services.

“But above all we will want to see improvements in the rehabilitation of offenders, improvements in probation service staff morale and robust protections for the public.

“In short, we want to make sure these latest reforms do not repeat the errors of the past.”

A HM Prison and Probation Service spokesperson said: “We are pleased the Committee recognises the vital steps we’ve taken to protect our staff, offenders and the public, while ensuring tough monitoring remained in place.

“We will now look to restart normal services in line with the latest public health guidance.”