Probation officers vote to strike as thousands of prisoners set for early release

Probation officers — staff who supervise people after prison — voted 91% to strike, union chair Ben Cockburn said on 11 August 2026. He warned there are not enough staff to protect the public. The vote comes as the government plans to release about 5,000 prisoners early, which the union called rushed. A strike would reduce supervision when caseloads are rising.