"The system isn't working", statement on renationalisation of probation
16 May 2019 (updated on 16 May 2019)
The Justice Secretary, David Gauke, is giving a statement on probation reform in the House of Commons.
Former Justice Secretary, Chris Grayling, introduced the system of part-privatisation in 2014. In a report published in March of this year, the National Audit Office concluded that that the Ministry of Justice had "set itself up to fail".
Addressing the Commons, Gauke said,
"I believe that bringing responsibility for delivery of all offender management within the NPS will remove some of the complexities that have caused challenges in the current model of delivery."
Speaking for the Opposition, Shadow Justice Secretary Richard Burgon, said,
"The Government has been forced to face reality and accept their probation model is irredeemably broken. Unfortunately though, this U-turn comes only after putting public safety at risk and squandering hundreds of millions of pounds trying to shore up failing private probation firms."
- Read: National Audit Office report - Transforming Rehabilitation: Progress review [external]
- Read: Commons Library Briefing - Contracting out of probation services
Image: MOJ
Follow the @HouseofCommons on Twitter for updates on the UK House of Commons Chamber. Please fill in our quick feedback survey to help us improve our news content.