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Probation inspector quits over conflict of interest
Probation chief’s wife’s Sodexo role called in to question

JUSTICE Secretary Chris Grayling’s dodgy judgement was again called into question yesterday after chief inspector of probation Paul McDowell quit over his wife’s role at US firm Sodexo — one of the biggest winners from rehabilitation privatisation.

Questions mounted over the minister’s decision to appoint Mr McDowell despite knowing of his family ties to the outsourcing giant that snapped up a large slice of new contracts.

The ex-chief inspector’s wife Janine is deputy managing director of Sodexo, which now runs probation services in parts of England and Wales.

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