Home Office announces first National Offender Manager
The Home Office has announced the appointment of the first National Offender Manager for England and Wales.
The post has been created as a result of the Government’s merger of the probation and prison services to form the National Offender Management Service (NOMS).
The Home Office aims to have a “fully integrated and regionalised structure” within five years.
The role will be filled by Christine Knott CBE who is currently Chief Officer of Greater Manchester Probation Area.
She will report directly to the chief executive of NOMS, Martin Narey, who is the former director general of the Prisons Service.
Mr Narey said that he is “delighted” with the appointment.
Ms Knott will take responsibility for the management of the 10 Regional Offender Managers (yet to be appointed) and budgetary control for offender management programmes in both custody and the community.
Home Office Minister Paul Goggins also offered his congratulations, and stated: “The National Offender Management Service provides a once in a generation opportunity to revolutionise the way we treat offenders and challenge offending behaviour.
“The purpose behind the establishment of NOMS is to make the work of everyone in Prisons and Probation more successful. We want to build on their professionalism to reduce re-offending and cut crime.”
The establishment of NOMS is however controversial.
The probation officers’ union NAPO is strongly opposed to its establishment, arguing that the case for a merged organisation has not been made.
Its general secretary, Harry Fletcher, warned “Napo maintains that the speed of the merger, the lack of prior consultation and inadequate funding on the ground is likely to result in disaster.”
