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Privatised probation plans 'morally corrupt'

LOCAL government workers branded Tory plans to privatise the probation service “morally corrupt” yesterday.

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling trumpeted changes that will lump all high-risk cases onto a small national probation agency for England and Wales while 70 per cent of the service will be farmed out to the private sector.

But Frank Radcliffe, speaking on behalf of public-sector union Unison’s eastern region at conference, said that the practices of G4S and Serco has not shown us that privatisation is good — highlighting the tagging of dead criminals as one of many examples.

And he warned if privatisation of probation goes ahead it signals a green light for the sell off many other services including fire and ambulance.

Martin Bedford of police and justice branch added: “Making crime pay should be the motto of this government. And they will no doubt be making it pay for their friends.

“Never mind about the victims or the causes of crime in our community. It’s morally, practically and financially wrong.”

Delegates agreed to campaign for an alternative put forward by Unison that would see local authorities and probation working together.

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