ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author looks at some key events at which it failed to act convincingly, or failed to appreciate changes taking place in government circles. The author assessments of the Probation Service George Mair thought that probation always believed it was on the side of the angels and that staff were "the good guys" of the criminal justice system. The implication being that form of protection, akin to political correctness, had done the Probation Service no favours. The aim was to akin to traditional professions such as law and medicine. In numerous respects it failed, but none more so than in the training and selection of its members. In one sense, of course, National Association of Probation Officers was doing no more than representing the bulk of Probation Service's views about privatisation. The Probation Service was always suspicious of proposals for private sector involvement. Linking probation to social work did not provide the governments with what they wanted.
