Jo Stevens MP, Labour’s Shadow Prisons and Probation Minister, responding to HM Inspectorate of Probations’ report Transforming Rehabilitation - Early Implementation 4, said:

“This report is yet more evidence of the Government’s misguided, ideological rush to privatise the probation service.

“Labour, probation staff and sector experts warned from the start, the risk to public safety of the Tories’ reckless probation sell-off and it is clear many transitional issues remain.  It is extremely worrying that despite repeated recommendations by HMIP for there to be sufficient risk assessment reviews of offenders, this is still not happening and I am concerned about the inadequacy of how safe guarding issues are dealt with.

“The Government must urgently address the concerns highlighted by the report and tell us what they are doing to make sure that the public are protected and those released back into the community don’t go on to re-offend.”