MP intervenes over probation staff cuts

JOHN Healey has written to Justice Secretary Chris Grayling after reports in South Yorkshire that probation staff are being cut by nearly two thirds.

The Labour general election candidate said a whistleblower had informed him that the number of probation officers will shrink to just six from 16 — a reduction of more than 60 per cent.

The government has recently privatised most of the probation service, and many offenders in South Yorkshire are now looked after by the company Sodexo Justice Services.

Mr Healey, who is standing for re-election as MP for Wentworth & Dearne, previously challenged the move, describing it as “reckless”.

He said: “Severe cuts like this cannot be carried through without a dramatic downgrading of the vital work probation staff do, which will impact on the rehabilitation of offenders and safety of the public.”

Mr Healey called on Mr Grayling to look urgently at staffing levels and ensure service quality does not suffer.