In the cool procedures of a public service, probation officers across England and Wales have chosen to withhold their ordinary labour, weighed down by pay that has stalled for years and caseloads that never ease. Their ballot result, with wide majorities for both lesser industrial action and full strikes, reflects a long accumulation of strain rather than a single grievance. It arrives at a moment when the state is hurrying to release prisoners early to relieve overcrowded jails, and the people who must watch over those released are the ones now asking to be heard. Whether the wider public is
Probation officers in England and Wales vote to strike over pay and workloads, jolting early-release plans
In the cool procedures of a public service, probation officers across England and Wales have chosen to withhold their ordinary labour, weighed down by pay that has stalled for years and caseloads that never ease. Their ballot result, with wide majorities for both lesser industrial action and full strikes, reflects a long accumulation of strain rather than a single grievance. It arrives at a moment when the state is hurrying to release prisoners early to relieve overcrowded jails, and the people who must watch over those released are the ones now asking to be heard. Whether the wider public is protected depends on whether the institution can bring its own people back into balance.
On Friday, probation officers across England and Wales voted to take industrial action at a difficult time for the government, which is working to empty overcrowded prisons ahead of schedule. Members of the union Napo backed overtime restrictions and other action short of a strike, likely beginning on 23 November, and plans for full strikes are being prepared for later.
Napo says it called the ballot because ministers offered a 5% pay rise, which it considers inadequate, and because workloads have not been reduced. The union had asked for 12%. The margins were decisive: 85% backed action short of a strike over pay and 74% backed strikes, while 87% and 75% respectively backed the same steps over workloads. The general secretary, Ian Lawrence, said the result reflected serious anger over workloads that were already in crisis before the early release scheme began in October.
Probation officers monitor offenders, oversee rehabilitation, track electronic tags and recall people to prison when they break licence conditions. By year end, about 2,500 offenders, among them sex offenders, domestic abusers and stalkers, will have been released under the scheme. Napo says probation pay has stagnated since 2010, with reception staff earning just above minimum wage.
The Ministry of Justice points to 1,300 new trainee officers and a £700m package, and calls the further 5% offer strong. The Institute for Government, however, reports that officer numbers have stayed 25 to 30% below target for years. The ministry says it is disappointed by the vote and that contingency plans will keep supervision rigorous. The first test arrives on 23 November.
On Friday, probation officers across England and Wales voted to take industrial action, handing the government a problem it did not need while it works to empty overcrowded prisons ahead of schedule. Members of the union Napo backed overtime restrictions and other action short of a strike, which is likely to begin on 23 November. Plans are being drawn up for full strike action to follow at a later date.
Napo represents staff in probation offices and in family courts. It says it opened the ballot because of a 5% pay offer from ministers that it called inadequate, and because workloads have not been cut. The union had asked for a 12% increase.
The margins were wide. On pay, 85% of voting members supported action short of a strike and 74% supported striking. On workloads, 87% backed action short of a strike and 75% backed strikes. Ian Lawrence, Napo's general secretary, said the high turnout and the result vindicated the campaign to win a rise that recovers lost ground against other staff in HM Prison and Probation Service. He added that the vote reflects serious anger over workloads that were already in crisis before the latest early release scheme.
That scheme began in October, and probation officers have been under growing pressure since. Their job is to monitor the behaviour of offenders, oversee their rehabilitation, watch their electronic tags, and recall them to prison for new offences or breaches of licence conditions, such as entering an exclusion or restriction zone set up to protect victims. By the end of the year, about 2,500 offenders will have been released under the scheme, among them sex offenders, domestic abusers and stalkers.
Napo says probation pay has stagnated since 2010. Its figures put reception staff on a salary just above the minimum wage, the lowest in the civil service.
The Ministry of Justice points to its own investment. It is recruiting an additional 1,300 trainee probation officers for the 2026-27 financial year, part of a £700m package running through 2028-29. But the Institute for Government, a thinktank, says slow recruitment means practitioners remain overstretched and ill-equipped to take on extra demand. It reports that probation officer numbers have sat consistently 25-30% below target for several years. As of March 2026, nine probation delivery units, 8% of the total, had vacancy rates of 40% or higher.
An MoJ spokesperson said probation staff do a vital job protecting the public, and described the offer of a further 5% as strong, following the biggest probation pay increase in more than a decade and record investment. The spokesperson said the 1,300 new officers would significantly cut workloads. The ministry said it was disappointed that some had voted against what it called a competitive deal, but that its first responsibility remains protecting the public, and that robust contingency plans are in place so offenders face the same rigorous supervision.
The first test comes on 23 November, when the action short of a strike is expected to start, with strikes planned for later, while the releases continue towards the year-end total of about 2,500.
Notable Quotes
The vote reflects serious anger at the state of probation workloads, which were already in crisis before the latest early release scheme.— Ian Lawrence, Napo general secretary
Robust contingency plans are in place to ensure offenders are still subject to the same rigorous supervision.— Ministry of Justice spokesperson
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