David Gauke, the justice secretary, is preparing to renationalise probation after a partial privatisation by Chris Grayling that a watchdog branded “irredeemably flawed”.
Under the proposals the supervision of tens of thousands of offenders will be taken over by the state-run probation service. Private sector companies will provide treatment programmes and other help to criminals.
In 2014 Mr Grayling created 21 private sector firms to supervise medium and low-risk offenders, with the state run National Probation Service managing those deemed a high risk.
In March Dame Glenys Stacey, chief inspector of probation, said the system was “irredeemably flawed” and that the public would be safer if core supervision work were managed by the state.
A final decision has yet to be made on moving the