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Nadine Marshall, the mother of Conner Marshall, an 18-year-old from Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, who was brutally murdered by David Braddon in March 2015, is expressing concerns over proposed changes to the justice system. Braddon, in a case of mistaken identity, beat Conner Marshall to death. The plans to address prison overcrowding would potentially lead to more inmates in Wales and England, including serious offenders, being eligible for early release after serving one-third of their sentence.
Mrs. Marshall fears that reforms announced by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, such as increased use of tagging and home detention, will only exacerbate the strain on the probation service. She voiced her apprehensions, stating, “The problems are going to be magnified because the system isn’t fit for purpose as it is.” The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) responded by acknowledging the criminal justice system was in a crisis, promising £700 million to fund intense supervision of released prisoners by the Probation Service.
Conner Marshall met his tragic fate at Trecco Bay caravan park in Porthcawl, Bridgend county, during a drink and drug-fueled attack by Braddon. Despite being classified as a low-risk offender, Braddon, who was under community orders for drug offenses and assaulting a police officer, committed this heinous crime. A total of 244 criminals on probation were charged with murder in Wales and England between January 2020 and March 2024, leading to severe criticism of the Probation Service’s management by the coroner during Mr. Marshall’s inquest.
An independent sentencing review recommended a broader use of probation services and the third sector in managing offenders post-release from prison. Former Conservative Lord Chancellor David Gauke conducted this review after prisons in Wales and England nearly reached capacity. Despite acknowledging the strain on the probation service, Mahmood accepted most of the review’s proposals but excluded the possibility of early release for the most serious offenders or those convicted of terror offenses. The UK government had recruited 1,000 probation officers between July 2024 and March 2025, with plans to hire an additional 1,300 officers in the current financial year 2025-26. The National Association of Probation Officers offered overall support but cautioned that adequate investment was crucial to support the staff under increasing pressure
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