Grayling’s probation reforms axed

JUSTICE Secretary David Gauke has renationalised probation – tearing up ‘irredeemably flawed’ reforms after five years of controversy.

Supervision of around 200,000 low and medium-risk offenders will be removed from part-private companies and taken over by the National Probation Service.

Changes will take place when the current contracts end in December 2020. From then, private sector companies will provide £280million of treatment programmes and other help to criminals.

Mr Gauke’s decision is a huge blow to beleaguered Cabinet colleague Chris Grayling, who introduced the defective shake-up when he was justice secretary. In March, Dame Glenys Stacey, the outgoing chief inspector of probation, said the public were at risk because of major problems with the flagship scheme.

Last night Mr Gauke said: ‘Delivering a stronger probation system is a pillar of our reforms.’ Under the £3.7billion Transforming Rehabilitation programme, Mr Grayling axed 35 probation trusts in England and Wales, replacing them with 21 private community rehabilitation companies (CRCs). Sodexo Justice Services, which ran some CRCs, said: ‘We are disappointed by this decision.’