So it begins.

[Spoggle]

As some of you guys may know I work for the probation service, and have done for the last 11 years or so. Always been on the community service team supervising offenders undertaking unpaid work in the community. Over the years c.s. has been rubbed down, re painted and re launched with a new name but has remained more or less the same. A cost effective alternitave to prison. When I first started with this job we had 17 full time supervisors in the county and over the years this number has reduced to 7 because we all have to save money and be leener.The threat of the private sector has always been hung over our heads when we have been asked to do more with less staff and in the main we have gone along with what has been asked of us so we could stave off the private sector and remain within the public sector. This morning I got a letter asking for expressions of interest in taking voluntary redundancy. Now I know that people will say it's all part of Mr. Camerons cut backs but this is before any of the cuts anounced in the budget.So I think the end is nigh for many of us despite Mr Clark saying that prison isnt the answer and that more offenders should be dealt with in the community, who will supervise them. Oh yes, silly me, the private sector will come to the rescue and make a profit. No doubt some board members of thes companys will be sitting M.Ps moonlighting because they have had there expences curbed. Who says crime dosent pay.

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[slobodan]

Take the redundancy and go and work for a private company doing the same job. Or start your own if you have the contacts.
I can understand the drop off in your line of work in the North east if they continue using that new type of tazer.

[Rustinho]

Oh yes, silly me, the private sector will come to the rescue and make a profit.

It was my understanding that Cameron & his cohorts wanted to encourage voluntary organisations to help out in as many things as possible, rehabilitation of criminals included (drug rehab, etc).

I suspect that the letter you have received would have long been in the process of being issued before the election and therefore probably would've happened whatever the outcome of the last election...

I was watching The Daily Politics (or similar) on the BBC the other day and they had John Bird (the fella who is responsible for starting The Big Issue) on. To put it mildly he was a bit of a scally when he was younger and spent time in prison. When he recently met Cameron he said to him "it costs more to keep a scumbag like me in prison that it does to send someone like you to Eton. Surely something is going wrong here?"

Food for thought IMHO.

[Spoggle]

Take the redundancy and go and work for a private company doing the same job. Or start your own if you have the contacts.
I can understand the drop off in your line of work in the North east if they continue using that new type of tazer.

If my job were to go to the private sector the line of thinking is they would probably take me with it along with all the infrastructure that would be needed to be up and running without a long delay. But I have no doubt that they wont want to pay me what I get paid now. As for a drop off in clients, we got loads of nutters and scroats left up here mate

Spoggle

[Spoggle]

It was my understanding that Cameron & his cohorts wanted to encourage voluntary organisations to help out in as many things as possible, rehabilitation of criminals included (drug rehab, etc).

I suspect that the letter you have received would have long been in the process of being issued before the election and therefore probably would've happened whatever the outcome of the last election...

I was watching The Daily Politics (or similar) on the BBC the other day and they had John Bird (the fella who is responsible for starting The Big Issue) on. To put it mildly he was a bit of a scally when he was younger and spent time in prison. When he recently met Cameron he said to him "it costs more to keep a scumbag like me in prison that it does to send someone like you to Eton. Surely something is going wrong here?"

Food for thought IMHO.

You said the magic words there mate 'Voluntary Organisations'. Pay peanuts and what do you get? Monkeys! Perhaps we should have a voluntary government who just do the job for free cos it makes em feel good, some hope. No I'm not a left wing loony and TBH I didnt think much of the last bunch we had but this lot now! As far as I can see the rich will get richer and the poor will just pay for it. What about the ruddy banks the taxpayer bailed out. When are they gonna repay there debt to the country! Come the revolution brother!!!!

Spoggle

[slobodan]

But I have no doubt that they wont want to pay me what I get paid now.
Spoggle

Sadly probably true. There are a lot of changes afoot in the employment world.
Best of luck anyway.

[Vultch]

I'm in a similar boat, I decided to go.

One thing to bear in mind as far as I know the government are working on legislation to cap redundancy payments so the deal on offer now may not exist next year.

Good luck whatever you decide

[Spoggle]

I'm in a similar boat, I decided to go.

One thing to bear in mind as far as I know the government are working on legislation to cap redundancy payments so the deal on offer now may not exist next year.

Good luck whatever you decide

I belive the redundancy deal that would be offered to us would provide enough funds for a half of shandy and a packet of crisps. Many years ago when I was a young probationary police constable my tutor constable said 'Look son, if you only learn one thing from me....Dont volunter for owt'. So if they want shot of me they are gonna have to push me cos at the age of 58 and with a knackered back what chance have I of finding work. I could always sell my inside knowledge of the service to the press

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[Albannach]

If you also have a limp, you could be a car park attendant?

[stormforce]

If you also have a limp, you could be a car park attendant?

so theres a job for me then

[Spoggle]

If you also have a limp, you could be a car park attendant?

A limp what?

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[John h]

I'm in a similar boat, I decided to go.

One thing to bear in mind as far as I know the government are working on legislation to cap redundancy payments so the deal on offer now may not exist next year.

Good luck whatever you decide

Correct !
We can't make anyone redundant yet until new legislation has been put into place ! no big pay-offs this time ! We are encouraging people to seek other employment and allow them to go straight away etc if they are successful, oh great joy

[Hazzo]

Only 58, there's loads of jobs out there according to these ######s in charge, just try finding one, there's none here if your past 40 never mind fifty. Like you say, they keep blaming the last lot for the mess, and we're all in this together,yadda yadda yadda, no mention of their banker friends paying back and the only ones to suffer are those who are worse off anyway, 2.5% on vat means sweet FA if your a millionaire, like many of those ruling the roost, but to a minimum wage earner as are many in northern England and every #### poor pensioner 2.5% on every luxury item you buy breaks the bank.

Who gives a #### though as long as those oxbridge/eton ####ers are rolling in it the rest of the population is expendable. I Łucking hate politician lying #######s.

Believe nothing, climate change,foot&mouth,swine flu etc etc, its all about big bucks for big business, at ordinary peoples expense and seeing how its every man for themselves, no community, no cammeraderie then no one will stick together, call a national strike or even march on parliament then the #######s get away with taking the ####. H

[Spoggle]

Correct !
We can't make anyone redundant yet until new legislation has been put into place ! no big pay-offs this time ! We are encouraging people to seek other employment and allow them to go straight away etc if they are successful, oh great joy

Yeah thats right, make all the public sector staff redundant and all those scroungers on the dole and those claiming to be disabled and make em find work. Wonder where they keep the box of new jobs hidden?Damn think David and Nick forgot about the jobs But then if they stop paying benefits to anyone.......thats it, job sorted

Spoggle

[Spoggle]

Only 58, there's loads of jobs out there according to these ######s in charge, just try finding one, there's none here if your past 40 never mind fifty. Like you say, they keep blaming the last lot for the mess, and we're all in this together,yadda yadda yadda, no mention of their banker friends paying back and the only ones to suffer are those who are worse off anyway, 2.5% on vat means sweet FA if your a millionaire, like many of those ruling the roost, but to a minimum wage earner as are many in northern England and every #### poor pensioner 2.5% on every luxury item you buy breaks the bank.

Who gives a #### though as long as those oxbridge/eton ####ers are rolling in it the rest of the population is expendable. I Łucking hate politician lying #######s.

Believe nothing, climate change,foot&mouth,swine flu etc etc, its all about big bucks for big business, at ordinary peoples expense and seeing how its every man for themselves, no community, no cammeraderie then no one will stick together, call a national strike or even march on parliament then the #######s get away with taking the ####. H

It's the same the whole world over and its all a ruddy shame, it's the rich wot gets the pleasure and it's the poor wot gets the blame. Now they want us all to work till we are much older. They could save money by shooting people when they retire instead of paying a pension. Trouble is the Hon Members have never had a proper job where they actualy had to work. So they dont understand that as you get older your body and mind get worn out. Talk about out of touch, one thing I'm glad about though I DIDN'T VOTE FOR THEM!! So at least I cant blame myself.

Spoggle
Come the revolution brothers.