PM encourages careers in public services as he hails ‘heroic efforts’
THE HARD work of the public sector during the coronavirus outbreak has been hailed by Boris Johnson as he encourages others to take advantage of career opportunities in schools, hospitals, prisons and police stations.
Speaking ahead of the planned publication later today of the latest police and teacher figures, the Prime Minister said: “We have seen more clearly than ever the heroic efforts of our public workers during this pandemic.
“The fantastic teachers, police officers and NHS workers truly are the pride of the nation and embody the spirit of public duty that every one of us can aspire towards. Together, we are on a mission to build back better – protect our NHS, make our streets safer, educate the next
‘Together, we are on a mission to build back better.’
generation and unleash Britain’s potential.”
His call comes alongside announcements from the Department for Education approving over 3,000 additional nursing university places to train the next generation of nurses and the Ministry
of Justice on hiring 1,000 new probation officers to reduce reoffending.
The move will see the workforce grow by 29 per cent by 2021, according to the Ministry of Justice. Some 800 probation officers are already in training, and an extra 1,000 will be in training by January 1, the department said.
The news comes as the Government prepares to bring all probation services – monitoring all offenders on licence and serving community sentences in England and Wales – back entirely under public control next year after inspectors said there were “fundamental flaws” in part-privatising the system.
Routine safety checks on offenders were not being carried out as officers buckled under overwhelming workloads, inspectors previously warned.