CONTROVERSIAL measures to slash the social security benefits of those found breaching community orders were introduced in Hertfordshire this week.
Probation staff are calling for the new system to be abandoned, claiming it breaches the Human Rights Act and will create more crime.
Officers also fear a violent backlash from offenders as probation staff try to enforce the contentious rules, which are on trial in the county for one year.
Those who breach criminal court orders now face a reduction or suspension of welfare entitlements under the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act.
The probation service is required to inform the Department of Social Security of any breaches and the offender will then return to court to face a four-week sanction on benefits.
Breaking a court order could be as little as arriving a few minutes late for a community service appointment.
Strongly opposing the act, probation service trade union Napo is asking for an urgent meeting with Government ministers to discuss concerns.
In a letter to leading ministers, the union said: "It is our belief that our members will be placed at increasing risk of threats and violence as a result of their frontline responsibility to process and enforce the benefit sanctions."
Napo outlined further reasons for opposing the pilot project in a report shown to The St Albans Observer on Monday.
The report claims that the measures contravene the Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on any ground. Only unemployed people on benefits not those who are employed would be punished under the scheme, which amounted to discrimination, it said.
Chairman of the local branch of Napo, Mr Gordon Jackson, of St Albans, said the union had issued clients, who may be affected by the new rules, with a list of 15 solicitors who specialised in human rights. Spokesman Harry Fletcher said: "The work of the probation service is aimed at preventing crime, not contributing towards it."
St Albans MP Kerry Pollard supports the idea but is meeting with the chief probation officer and has written to the Government to discuss concerns.
October 17, 2001 19:39
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