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Probation service bidding begins for contracts worth £450m Probation service bidding begins for contracts worth £450m
(34 minutes later)
Bidding has begun for probation service contracts worth £450m across England and Wales, the Ministry of Justice has announced.Bidding has begun for probation service contracts worth £450m across England and Wales, the Ministry of Justice has announced.
Payment-by-results contracts are to be split between private companies and charities in 20 English regions and one Welsh region, officials said.Payment-by-results contracts are to be split between private companies and charities in 20 English regions and one Welsh region, officials said.
They will supervise 225,000 low and medium-risk offenders each year.They will supervise 225,000 low and medium-risk offenders each year.
Senior probation officers have condemned the plans as "untried and untested".Senior probation officers have condemned the plans as "untried and untested".
The competition will continue through 2014, with contracts awarded by 2015.The competition will continue through 2014, with contracts awarded by 2015.
Under a system of 21 contracts, the voluntary groups, charities and private companies will only be paid in full if a certain proportion of offenders do not commit further crimes.
The government also announced the creation of a new public sector organisation known as the National Probation Service, which will be in charge of supervising and rehabilitating 31,000 high-risk offenders.The government also announced the creation of a new public sector organisation known as the National Probation Service, which will be in charge of supervising and rehabilitating 31,000 high-risk offenders.
'Extremely encouraging'
"Each year around 600,000 crimes are committed by those who have already broken the law - that is a dreadful figure and I am determined to bring it down," Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said in a statement."Each year around 600,000 crimes are committed by those who have already broken the law - that is a dreadful figure and I am determined to bring it down," Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said in a statement.
"The scale of interest in these contracts from so many diverse and creative organisations is extremely encouraging. This is great news for the public who will finally benefit from the best of the private and voluntary sectors, working together with the public sector, to cut reoffending.""The scale of interest in these contracts from so many diverse and creative organisations is extremely encouraging. This is great news for the public who will finally benefit from the best of the private and voluntary sectors, working together with the public sector, to cut reoffending."
Nearly 400 charities had already expressed interest in the contracts, Mr Grayling added.
In response to the announcement, senior probation officers said the sector was "facing the fight of its life".
Ian Lawrence, acting general secretary of probation service union Napo, said: "Not caring about public safety is a downright disgrace and a total failure on their part (the government) to fulfil their duty to society."
As part of the plans, every inmate leaving jail - including those who have spent just a few days in prison - will have to complete a year-long period of supervision that will see them returned to custody if they reoffend.
Currently, offenders who have a sentence of less than 12 months are not supervised on release.
Government figures show that while 46.9 % of all adult prisoners commit a further offence within a year of release, the reoffending rate is significantly higher - 58.2% - for those sentenced to less than a year.
Long-term offenders will continue to be monitored by the probation service for about the same length of time as their prison sentence.
Meanwhile, all prisoners will receive support for a minimum of 12 months to help them find accommodation, get a job or training and tackle any alcohol or drug problems they may have.