20% of appeals by probation staff against new jobs successful

The National Association of Probation Officers has reported that 119 of the 553 appeals launched by probation officers against new jobs assigned to them under the new system due to contract out most probation work have been successful. The Government are currently in the process of tendering for suppliers in 20 regions across England and Wales to supervise 160,000 low- and medium- risk offenders a year on a payment-by-results basis.

The changes are expected to be in place by April 2015. The BBC has reported that 10 of the 33 most senior probation officials are planning to leave the service when the trusts they leave are abolished, which has caused much concern among the industry.