19/09/2013

Bidding Begins For Probation Service Contracts

The Ministry of Justice have begun to accept offers from private companies and charities bidding for probation service contracts worth some £450 million.

Privately-run companies and charities are bidding on the payment-by-results contracts across 20 regions of England and Wales, which will see them take charge of 225,000 ow and medium-risk offenders per year.

Bidding for the contracts will remain open throughout 2014, with the final contracts awarded in 2015.

Some senior probation officers however have condemned the plans as "untried and untested".

(MH/CD)

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