Press release from West Oxford Community Against Mega Probation Centre (WOCAMP)
Nearly 100 Oxford angry residents including children carrying banners met today to protest against a proposal by Thames Valley Probation Service to site a Mega Probation Centre in the centre of a residential cul de sac. The Probation Service plans to concentrate all serious offenders from across the region in a quiet residential area. The group has gained wide-spread local support including from local MP, Evan Harris and Lord Mayor of Oxford, Susanna Pressel.
The proposal is part of ongoing attempts by the Probation Service to save money as an ever increasing proportion of its budget is taken by the prisons. The Probation Service is creaking at the seams with the National Association of Probation Officers (NAPO) predicting cuts to Probation Service funding of up to 25% over the next 3 years and warning that they will be unable to fulfil their statutory duties or provide an adequate service to the courts.
The proposal to amalgamate 4 probation centres at Trajan House on Mill Street, Oxford was leaked to residents a week ago. There has been no consultation with local residents for the proposal which would mean 350 convicted criminals a week, including serious sex and violent offenders, walking the narrow pavements of a quiet residential street characterised by young families and older residents.
Local father of 2, Matthew Savage who lives a stone’s throw from the proposed site said, “I know they want to save money but this is absolutely disgraceful. The route that a lot of probationers would take from the courts to the centre would take them right past two nurseries”.
A local mother said, “I’m honestly speechless at the idea. This is an area that has so many young children and senior citizens.”
Following the leak the Assistant Chief Probation Officer for Thames Valley, Graham McCartney informed residents (via local radio) that he would only meet to discuss concerns after the lease has been signed. Locals are extremely angry that the Probation Service and Ministry of Justice have failed to discuss the issue openly with residents and have attempted to impose the new mega centre in such an underhand way.
Support for the campaign has come from unexpected quarters. An ex-prison and serving probation officer of 24 years, has gone on the record stating that the positioning of a probation centre in a residential area is wrong for probationers and wrong for residents. Large numbers of sex offenders, paedophiles and other violent criminals will come into regular contact with the same children and other vulnerable residents and learn where they live and their regular patterns. However the probationers themselves are expected to shy away from the scrutiny of residents.
Local residents, parents and children alike, have made it clear they will not allow the safety of their children and neighbours to be attacked by a concentration of criminals in the midst of their homes and will do whatever it takes to resist this proposal.
Further information:
www.wocamp.co.uk - spokesperson Dan Rawstorne (07968 718011)
National Association of Probation Officers: www.napo.org.uk
Thames Valley Probation Service: www.thamesvalleyprobation.gov.uk/
Location: www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=450395&Y=205969&A=Y&Z=110
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