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Welfare and safety of female officers - Newport office

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Dear Wales Probation Trust,

I request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act:

- The average workload (in % terms) of female probation/probation service officers who are working in the Newport (Gwent) office.

- The number of female probation/probation service officers who are working over a 100% workload, including full/part time officers who are working in the Newport (Gwent) office.

- What security measures are in place for of female officers who supervise or interact with male offenders deemed at risk of reoffending or at risk of harm on a one to one basis at the Newport (Gwent) office?

- If a safety policy exists for female officers working at the Newport (Gwent) office, especially those working later at night?

- What safety measures are in place for female officers leaving the Newport (Gwent) office later at night, considering the crime profile of the Pillgwenlly area?

- What the policy is for female officers from the Newport (Gwent) office making home visits to male offenders, should female officers visit alone or with colleagues.

- If female officers from the Newport (Gwent) office DO make home visits alone to the homes of male offenders, and If so; how many such visits have been made over the last year.

- If female officers from the Newport (Gwent) office DO make home visits alone to the homes of male offenders; whether Wales Probation Trust feels it has appropriately considered the welfare and safety of female officers.

- Whether female probation service officers at the Newport (Gwent) office supervise high and very high risk category offenders such as domestic violence or sex offenders.

- Does Wales Probation Tust take the safety and welfare of its female officers seriously?

- Does Wales Probation Trust feel it has apprpriately considered all possible eventualities in regard to the safety of its female officers, especially in relation to female officers working on a one to one basis with male offenders who are deemed risky?

I look forward to your prompt response, the statutory timescale for responding to me is 20 working days.

Yours faithfully,

Mrs S Young

Dear Wales Probation Trust,

Re: welfare and safety of female officers, Newport office.

I have not yet received a response. Under UK law, I should have had a prompt response from you by today - 8th November.

I await the response. If there is a delay of more than 7 working days, I will forward this request to the Information Commissioner, copying in the Western Mail, South Wales Argus and relevant MP.

Yours faithfully,

S.Young1979

Sent request to Wales Probation Trust again, using a new contact address.

Sent a follow up to Wales Probation Trust again, using a new contact address.

Wales Probation Trust

Dear Mrs S Young

Thank you for your recent Freedom of Information request received by me on
11 November 2013, I would let you know that Wales Probation is currently
considering your request and that you will receive a response by Monday
9th December 2013 (20 working days) at the very latest.

Yours sincerely

Russell James
Information Security Manager

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Wales Probation Trust

Dear Mrs Young

I refer to your recent Freedom of Information Request, I have pleasure in
providing you with a response to your request as follows

Q1 -          The average workload (in % terms) of female
probation/probation service officers who are working in the Newport
(Gwent) office.

A1 -         The total average workload in % terms for female POs/PSOs in
Newport is 85%

Q2 -         The number of female probation/probation service officers who
are working over a 100% workload, including full/part time officers who
are working in the Newport (Gwent) office.

A2 -         To contextulise the agreed acceptabel level of workload is
between 90-110%

        There 27 female officers (includes 3 on long term absence)

        there are 10 who are over 100%

        there are 6 who over 110%
        We have introduced 6 new members of staff (4 x POs, 2 x PSOs) over
the past 4 months, with another member of staff joing us in January 2014
and 1 x PO returing from         maternity in Decmeber 2013.
Q3-          What security measures are in place for of female officers
who supervise or interact with male offenders deemed at risk of
reoffending or at risk of harm on a one to one basis at the Newport      
          (Gwent) office?

A3 -         All Officers are highly trained to assess risk, defuse
confrontational situations and are aware of the risk the offenders they
supervise pose.  All interview rooms in         Newport are alarmed and
cameras are located in each room which are monitored by Reception Staff.

Q4  -         If a safety policy exists for female officers working at the
Newport (Gwent) office, especially those working later at night?

A4 -         The WPT Lone Working Policy states that where risk is
considered to be significant then the work should not be undertaken by a
lone employee.  Completion of out of         hours work should be reported
to an appropriate contact point, the lone working policy discourages staff
to work at premises alone and can only be allowed if                
absolutely deemed necessary to Management.
Q5 -         What safety measures are in place for female officers leaving
the  Newport (Gwent) office later at night, considering the crime profile
of the Pillgwenlly area?

A5 -         As mentioned, staff working during the evening should not
work alone. If officers are planning to work into the evening (i.e,
evening reporting/programme delivery)  car         parking arrangements
can be made in advance.Car park facilities are behind the building. In
addition this Staff are responsible for own vigilance and safety when    
    leaving the office.

Q6 -         What the policy is for female officers from the Newport
(Gwent) office making home visits to male offenders, should female
officers visit alone or with colleagues.
A6 -         Home visits to offenders should not be undertaken before the
offender has been interviewed and assessed within Wales Probation
premises.  Where the risk                 associated with offenders is
judged to be significant then lone working must not be undertaken.  Risk
Assessments must be reviewed if information is received which        
could materially change the basis of the original assessment.  Lone visits
must not be undertaken until the risk assessment has been reviewed and any
necessary         protective mechanisms put in place.

        Staff should liaise with the relevant authorities to identify any
issues relating to specific risks associated with the location of the
intended visit and to identify possible         places of safety.

        All Home Visit must be logged before the visit together with
anticipated time of completion.  The Employee must inform an identified
point of contact between visits and         when the visits have been
completed or when arrangements are changed.

Q7 -         If female officers from the Newport (Gwent) office DO make
home visits alone to the homes of male offenders, and If so; how many such
visits have been made over the last year.

A7 -         Between 11/11/2012 and 31/10/13 there were 281 home visits
made by female officers.We are unable to extrapulate how many of these
visits were made alone.

Q8 -         If female officers from the Newport (Gwent) office DO make
home visits alone to the homes of male offenders; whether Wales Probation
Trust feels it has appropriately considered the welfare and         safety
of female officers.

A8 -        The welfare and safety of all staff is paramount for Wales
probation Trust.  The Lone Working Policy extracts already noted in this
response demonstrates this.
Q9 -         Whether female probation service officers at the Newport
(Gwent) office supervise high and very high risk category offenders such
as domestic violence or sex offenders.

A9 -         Yes
Q10 -         Does Wales Probation Tust take the safety and welfare of its
female officers seriously?

A10 -         Yes (as stated above)
Q11 -         Does Wales Probation Trust feel it has apprpriately
considered all possible eventualities in regard to the safety of its
female officers, especially in relation to female officers working on a
one to         one basis with male offenders who are deemed risky?
A11 -         Yes all Officers are well trained in risk assessment and
management, offices/interview rooms are alamed and CCTV Monitored.

I trust this answers your enquiry, however, as part of our obligations
under the FOIA, the Wales Probation Trust has an independent review
process.  If you are dissatisfied with this decision, you may write to
request an internal review.  The internal review will be carried out by
someone who did not make the original decision, and they will re-assess
how the Probation Board handled the original request. If you wish to
request an internal review, please write or send an email to the Office of
the Chief Executive within two months of the date of this letter, at the
following address:
 
Office to Chief Executive
Wales Probation  
Churchill House, 17 Churchill Way, Cardiff CF10 2HH
02920 232999 (Switchboard)
If you remain dissatisfied after an internal review decision, you have the
right to apply to the Information Commissioner’s Office under Section 50
of the FOIA.  You can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office at the
following address:
 
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Internet:  [1]https://www.ico.gov.uk/Global/contact_us...

Yours sincerely
Russell James
Information Security Manager

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References

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1. https://www.ico.gov.uk/Global/contact_us...

We don't know whether the most recent response to this request contains information or not – if you are S.Young1979 please sign in and let everyone know.