- Conference
- 2021 Police and Justice Conference
- Date
- 21 June 2021
- Decision
- Carried
This Conference notes that the transfer of Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRC) staff to “The Probation Service” or Dynamic Framework Providers in June 2021 means it is necessary to change UNISON’s national structures for probation.
Since the split of probation services in 2015, UNISON national structures have consisted of two sector committees for probation members in England and Wales; The National Probation Service (NPS) Sector Committee and the CRC Sector Committee.
There was provision for two seats, one general and one female seat, for all English regions and Wales on these committees giving a potential committee membership of 20 for each committee. In addition, there was a seat on the CRC Sector Committee for an Interserve CRC representative, as despite being one of the largest CRC owners, there were no Interserve reps on the national committee.
In April 2021 there were 16 members of the NPS Sector Committee and 18 members of the CRC Sector Committee. In April 2021 there were 1,579 NPS members and 1,440 CRC members, and 236 members not directly employed by the NPS or a CRC.
If it had not been for the transfer of CRC staff into “The Probation Service” regional nominations would have been sought in the autumn of 2020 to take effect from 1 January 2021 for both committees. However, the Police and Justice Service Group Executive (SGE) agreed to extend the term of office for the two committees until after the transfer had taken place in June 2021.
This conference now calls upon the Police and Justice SGE to:
1)Enable the establishment of a new Probation Service Sector Committee to replace the CRC and NPS Sector Committees. It is proposed that the new committee should consist of:
a)Two representatives for each region, with one general and one female seat;
b)The provision of up to three additional seats for members from probation providers other than “The Probation Service” to seek to ensure these members are represented on the new sector committee.
2)Work with regions to seek to review Regional Police & Justice Service Group structures and constitutions to reflect the changed landscape for the provision of probation services and the changes to UNISON’s national probation structures.