This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-51149311
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Conner Marshall inquest: Killer's probation worker was 'overwhelmed' | Conner Marshall inquest: Killer's probation worker was 'overwhelmed' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A coroner has criticised the probation service's "woefully inadequate" management of a case worker supervising a man who beat a teenager to death. | A coroner has criticised the probation service's "woefully inadequate" management of a case worker supervising a man who beat a teenager to death. |
David Braddon, 26, mistook Conner Marshall, 18, for his estranged partner's former boyfriend. | David Braddon, 26, mistook Conner Marshall, 18, for his estranged partner's former boyfriend. |
Braddon was jailed for life Mr Marshall's murder in 2015. | Braddon was jailed for life Mr Marshall's murder in 2015. |
In a narrative conclusion at the Pontypridd inquest on Friday, assistant coroner Nadim Bashir said Braddon's case worker was "overwhelmed". | In a narrative conclusion at the Pontypridd inquest on Friday, assistant coroner Nadim Bashir said Braddon's case worker was "overwhelmed". |
He described how Kathryn Oakley accepted a number of times she could have done more with the supervision of Braddon. | He described how Kathryn Oakley accepted a number of times she could have done more with the supervision of Braddon. |
When the attack happened Braddon was under supervision for drug offences and assaulting a police officer. | When the attack happened Braddon was under supervision for drug offences and assaulting a police officer. |
Probation reforms took place in 2014, with privately-run community rehabilitation companies (CRCs) taking on the work. | Probation reforms took place in 2014, with privately-run community rehabilitation companies (CRCs) taking on the work. |
Following this, some staff were behind with their work, the inquest in Pontypridd had heard. | Following this, some staff were behind with their work, the inquest in Pontypridd had heard. |
Mr Bashir described Braddon's probation officer Ms Oakley as being "brand new to her role" after starting in January 2014. | Mr Bashir described Braddon's probation officer Ms Oakley as being "brand new to her role" after starting in January 2014. |
"She should have been supervised by a team manager once every six to eight weeks," he said. | "She should have been supervised by a team manager once every six to eight weeks," he said. |
"She had weak team managers with no team manager oversight of her case work load. | "She had weak team managers with no team manager oversight of her case work load. |
"The management and supervision of her was woefully inadequate." | "The management and supervision of her was woefully inadequate." |
"The failures, however, must have a direct and clear causal connection with Conner Marshall's death and must contribute in a more than minimal way," he added. | "The failures, however, must have a direct and clear causal connection with Conner Marshall's death and must contribute in a more than minimal way," he added. |
"But I am satisfied there was no possible or even probable evidential link that led to Conner Marshall's death. | "But I am satisfied there was no possible or even probable evidential link that led to Conner Marshall's death. |
"Put simply, his death could not have been foreseen or predicted, let alone prevented." | "Put simply, his death could not have been foreseen or predicted, let alone prevented." |
Following the inquest, Mr Marshall's mother Nadine said his death had followed the "chaos" after the privatisation of probation services. | Following the inquest, Mr Marshall's mother Nadine said his death had followed the "chaos" after the privatisation of probation services. |
"Today is the culmination of almost five years of struggle to obtain truth and justice for Conner and find out why our much loved son was the victim of a callous and unprovoked attack," she said. | "Today is the culmination of almost five years of struggle to obtain truth and justice for Conner and find out why our much loved son was the victim of a callous and unprovoked attack," she said. |
She added the supervision of Braddon was "not robust" and the management system in Wales "wholly inadequate". | She added the supervision of Braddon was "not robust" and the management system in Wales "wholly inadequate". |
Mrs Marshall said "we will never know if our son would still be here today" if things had operated differently. | Mrs Marshall said "we will never know if our son would still be here today" if things had operated differently. |
Following the inquest, the trade union for probation and family court staff Napo said it had raised "serious concerns" about the firm responsible for probation services in Wales. | Following the inquest, the trade union for probation and family court staff Napo said it had raised "serious concerns" about the firm responsible for probation services in Wales. |
It said staff had complained about excessive workloads, exacerbated by Working Links' decision to make 40% of staff redundant when it took over operations in 2014. | It said staff had complained about excessive workloads, exacerbated by Working Links' decision to make 40% of staff redundant when it took over operations in 2014. |
'Scapegoated' | 'Scapegoated' |
General secretary Ian Lawrence said: "Time and time again we are seeing our members being scapegoated by management across both the public and private arms of probation when a serious further offence occurs. | General secretary Ian Lawrence said: "Time and time again we are seeing our members being scapegoated by management across both the public and private arms of probation when a serious further offence occurs. |
"This is especially relevant in this tragic case when there is so much empirical evidence to suggest that Working Links were incapable of running a safe and effective operational model." | "This is especially relevant in this tragic case when there is so much empirical evidence to suggest that Working Links were incapable of running a safe and effective operational model." |
He said before Working Links went into administration last year, Napo warned ministers that its contract was "failing on every level". | He said before Working Links went into administration last year, Napo warned ministers that its contract was "failing on every level". |
The Ministry of Justice has been asked to comment. | The Ministry of Justice has been asked to comment. |
Analysis by BBC Wales home affairs correspondent Jenny Rees | |
If nothing else, this inquest has highlighted how difficult probation's role is. | |
On a daily basis, officers juggle supervision of a number of people living chaotic lives. | |
Processes are put in place to try and manage that, but in this case the needs of a junior probation service officer weren't adequately supported. | |
Managers were aware she was feeling overwhelmed but an online tool suggested her workload was fine - others were coping, after all. | |
And so somewhere in the midst of a changing structure, the needs of Kathryn Oakley were overlooked. | |
It has taken a coroner looking at the inner workings of a service to see this was "woefully inadequate". | |
It is now down to the Ministry of Justice and National Probation Service to give reassurance that the new way of working is different. |