Humberside Probation Trust – Funding Deficit

I write as Chairman of the High Sheriffs’ and Humberside Police Tribune Trust.

The Tribune Trust is an endowment fund, registered with the Charities Commission. It was established by the High Sheriffs of the East Riding of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire together with the Chief Constable of Humberside Police to improve the quality of life and create a positive image for business and residential communities.

The trustees include former, current and future High Sheriffs’ and the chief Constable. The patrons are Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenants for the two county areas.

Small to moderate grant aid funds are provided for community projects tackling crime and disorder when such projects are not supported from mainstream funds but make a difference in localities. Several hundred projects have been supported. Additionally it has a wide sphere of influence with other partners in dealing with pressing social issues linked to crime and wider regeneration work.

Last year following representation from a serving High Sheriff the Trust organised a major seminar to tackle re-offending rates jointly with the Prison and Probation Service, business leaders, local councils and housing associations. Prison governors had expressed concern about difficulties experienced in re-settling offenders into employment and accommodation reporting barriers to rehabilitation in certain areas.

Very high re-offending rates were being recorded which had a negative impact on the local economy, restricted business and employment thereby making regeneration very difficult. The barriers often came from employers and housing associations hence the seminar to raise the profile of the problem.

The seminar was a success and an action plan followed supported by the Humberside Probation Service as the lead partner in the Humberside National Offender Management Service. Good progress was made. Employers being more proactive and council/housing associations aware of their responsibilities. The work continues.

The Humberside Probation Trust manages a high performing service working with many partners. It has the equivalent of 460 full time posts working at 5 offices a Headquarters, magistrates and Crown Courts and the four prisons in the Humberside area. It’s Chief Officer and staff are fully committed to reducing re-offending rates working closely with all relevant partners.

Progress with the ‘Reducing Re-offending’ programme is monitored at quarterly meetings of the Tribune Trust following the 2008 seminar. At a meeting on 15 April 2009 the trustees discussed the effect that significant cuts to the probation Service budget would have on efforts to reduce re-offending.

The service is facing a budget cut which is expected to total £2 million. This is a 20.9 per cent reduction and may result in the loss of 13% of probation posts. The effect of this on offending rates would be significant. Whilst the Chief Officer and his staff will seek to protect the public by managing dangerous offenders other key work would be neglected at a time when crime has the potential to increase as a consequence of the recession.

The trustees of the Tribune resolved that as Chairman I should formally report their serious concerns to you in the hope that budget cuts could be avoided. They appreciate that public spending must be tightly controlled but reducing the resources of such a key and successful service at this crucial time would be counter productive to growth in the local economy.

I would be grateful to hear your response. This letter is being copied to all Members of Parliament in the Humberside Probation Trust area.

Yours Sincerely

Hugh Bethell

Chairman