In a Commons statement, Justice Minister Chris Grayling announced that 70% of probation services will be outsourced to the private sector, with the public sector barred from bidding for the new payment-by-results contracts. The public sector will continue to manage the remaining 30% of offenders considered as high risk.
Following the announcement Grahame Morris MP said:
“The Government are gambling with the public’s safety. The Justice Secretary was the architect behind the payment-by-results Work Programme, which has been an abject failure in getting people into work.It is bad enough when the Work Programme fails, someone doesn’t get a job, but a failure in justice would leave dangerous offenders in our community without support or monitoring.Private operators such as G4S, who failed to deliver on their promises on the security at the Olympics, will be managing low and medium risk offenders including prolific burglars, drug users, and those convicted of domestic violence.The Probation Service has an excellent performance record, with every Public Probation Trust judged to be showing either good or exceptional performance last year. The Government have no justification for risking public safety by privatising a service which is operating effectively.I will oppose these ideologically driven changes that prioritise private sector profits over the rehabilitation of offenders, and most importantly, the health, safety and wellbeing of the public and the communities”
