Transforming Rehabilitation : What lessons might be learned from prison privatisation?

Drawing upon empirical data collected during HMP Birmingham’s privatisation in 2011, this article explores the prospects of competition increasing performance in the delivery of ‘probation services’ in England and Wales. The constraints and challenges that stem from the public procurement rules and their manner of implementation are highlighted, alongside the adverse impacts that competition can have upon organisational culture. Together with current evidence about the (mixed) performance of privately managed prisons, the article argues that the Government’s faith in competition as a panacea solution to improve public services is misplaced and that too few lessons are being learned from commissioning mistakes.