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| Private firms 'to take on probation services' | Private firms 'to take on probation services' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An overhaul of the probation service in England and Wales will see low-risk offenders supervised by the private sector, the government has announced. | An overhaul of the probation service in England and Wales will see low-risk offenders supervised by the private sector, the government has announced. |
| Justice Secretary Chris Grayling has unveiled plans to let security firms and voluntary groups manage probation on a "payment by results" basis. | Justice Secretary Chris Grayling has unveiled plans to let security firms and voluntary groups manage probation on a "payment by results" basis. |
| Prisoners serving short sentences will also have to undertake compulsory rehabilitation for the first time. | Prisoners serving short sentences will also have to undertake compulsory rehabilitation for the first time. |
| Trade unionists fear that the move could "compromise public protection". | Trade unionists fear that the move could "compromise public protection". |
| Most released prisoners and people serving community sentences are managed by the public sector probation service - provided by 35 trusts across England and Wales. | Most released prisoners and people serving community sentences are managed by the public sector probation service - provided by 35 trusts across England and Wales. |
| But under the Ministry of Justice's (MoJ) proposals, responsibility for monitoring some 200,000 medium- and low-risk offenders will transfer to the private sector. | But under the Ministry of Justice's (MoJ) proposals, responsibility for monitoring some 200,000 medium- and low-risk offenders will transfer to the private sector. |
| Private companies and charitable bodies successfully bidding for contracts will be paid according to their results in cutting re-offending. | Private companies and charitable bodies successfully bidding for contracts will be paid according to their results in cutting re-offending. |
| However, the public probation service will continue to supervise some 50,000 high-risk offenders, including all serious violent and sexual offenders. | However, the public probation service will continue to supervise some 50,000 high-risk offenders, including all serious violent and sexual offenders. |
| An MoJ spokesman said £1bn was spent each year on running community sentences, and £800m of that was spent on probation. | An MoJ spokesman said £1bn was spent each year on running community sentences, and £800m of that was spent on probation. |
| According to MoJ figures, 47.5% of all offenders released from custody in 2010 re-offended within 12 months, and 57.6% of those sentenced to under 12 months released in the same period went onto re-offend within 12 months. | According to MoJ figures, 47.5% of all offenders released from custody in 2010 re-offended within 12 months, and 57.6% of those sentenced to under 12 months released in the same period went onto re-offend within 12 months. |
| "Companies would only get paid in full if their efforts at bringing down reoffending rates were successful. But we are not putting a figure on any target spend on this scheme," the spokesman said. | "Companies would only get paid in full if their efforts at bringing down reoffending rates were successful. But we are not putting a figure on any target spend on this scheme," the spokesman said. |
| He added that there will not be any cuts made to the rehabilitation of high-risk offenders. | He added that there will not be any cuts made to the rehabilitation of high-risk offenders. |
| In an attempt to curb re-offending, Mr Grayling has also indicated that all those serving short custodial sentences will undergo rehabilitation following their release. | In an attempt to curb re-offending, Mr Grayling has also indicated that all those serving short custodial sentences will undergo rehabilitation following their release. |
| Prisoners serving under 12 months only currently undergo voluntary rehabilitation and are otherwise freed without support or supervision. | Prisoners serving under 12 months only currently undergo voluntary rehabilitation and are otherwise freed without support or supervision. |
| The MoJ says those serving more than 12 months have statutory supervision on release - this can involve regular meetings with an offender manager, curfews and a requirement to attend drug or alcohol rehabilitation courses. | The MoJ says those serving more than 12 months have statutory supervision on release - this can involve regular meetings with an offender manager, curfews and a requirement to attend drug or alcohol rehabilitation courses. |
| A scheme is also being introduced where similar offenders are being met at the prison gates by a mentor offering support in finding accommodation, returning to work and coping with drugs or alcohol. | A scheme is also being introduced where similar offenders are being met at the prison gates by a mentor offering support in finding accommodation, returning to work and coping with drugs or alcohol. |
| The new proposals would see all freed prisoners subject to both the mentoring scheme and statutory supervision. | |
| According to the MoJ, the government would look to security firms and voluntary groups to "innovate" in their efforts to bring down reoffending rates. | According to the MoJ, the government would look to security firms and voluntary groups to "innovate" in their efforts to bring down reoffending rates. |
| "We wouldn't tell them what to do, we would look to them to find the best way to reduce reoffending," a spokesman said. | "We wouldn't tell them what to do, we would look to them to find the best way to reduce reoffending," a spokesman said. |
| Mr Grayling also said that offenders are currently released from prison "with £46 in their pocket, and no support at all". | Mr Grayling also said that offenders are currently released from prison "with £46 in their pocket, and no support at all". |
| "No wonder we have such high levels of re-offending. It is madness to carry on with the same old system and hope for a different result." | "No wonder we have such high levels of re-offending. It is madness to carry on with the same old system and hope for a different result." |
| The government will offer £500,000 to voluntary and community sector groups to help them prepare to bid for probation contracts. | |
| Shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan said: "Payment by results in criminal justice is untested, and the Tory-led government are taking a reckless gamble with public safety." | Shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan said: "Payment by results in criminal justice is untested, and the Tory-led government are taking a reckless gamble with public safety." |
| But Mr Grayling told MPs during his announcement of the proposals that anyone who becomes classified as a danger to the public during their rehabilitation would see their case go back to the public probation service. | But Mr Grayling told MPs during his announcement of the proposals that anyone who becomes classified as a danger to the public during their rehabilitation would see their case go back to the public probation service. |
| Harry Fletcher of probation officers' union Napo said the "astonishing" overhaul was being "rushed through without proper thought to the consequences". | Harry Fletcher of probation officers' union Napo said the "astonishing" overhaul was being "rushed through without proper thought to the consequences". |
| Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said: "Why not build on the success of joint work by probation, police and voluntary organisations, rather than break up the probation service and put the public at risk?" | Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said: "Why not build on the success of joint work by probation, police and voluntary organisations, rather than break up the probation service and put the public at risk?" |
| Liz Calderbank, chief inspector of probation for England and Wales, queried how, for example, a positive result for someone on probation could be measured. | Liz Calderbank, chief inspector of probation for England and Wales, queried how, for example, a positive result for someone on probation could be measured. |
| "If you have someone who's convicted of a serious knife crime and then they re-offend by stealing a jar of coffee, is that a failure or a success?" she said. | "If you have someone who's convicted of a serious knife crime and then they re-offend by stealing a jar of coffee, is that a failure or a success?" she said. |
| In 2011, a record number of offenders sentenced for serious crimes were found to have committed previous offences, according to government figures. | In 2011, a record number of offenders sentenced for serious crimes were found to have committed previous offences, according to government figures. |
| Some 90% of those sentenced in England and Wales had offended before - and almost a third had committed or were linked to 15 or more crimes. | Some 90% of those sentenced in England and Wales had offended before - and almost a third had committed or were linked to 15 or more crimes. |
| Final reforms for the probation service are expected to be set out later this year and implemented across England and Wales by spring 2015. | Final reforms for the probation service are expected to be set out later this year and implemented across England and Wales by spring 2015. |