Ministers were allegedly warned that privatisation could lead to a rise in reoffending while on probation PETER BYRNE/PAThe number of offenders charged with murder or other serious violent crimes while under probation supervision has risen by a quarter since the partial privatisation of the service. Figures show that more than 500 offenders were charged with a serious offence last year when they were being monitored by probation officers in England and Wales. The rise comes after a troubled partial privatisation of the probation service which has resulted in the Ministry of Justice providing a “bailout” of £21 million to some of the privatised Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) facing financial pressures. Separately, the government has been accused of “sneaking out” controversial plans to privatise the collection of court fines. Staff have been told of plans to outsource work currently carried out by some…

Source: The Times August 01, 2017 23:37 UTC