Union agrees to short delay in battle with Grayling over new probation organisations

The National Association of Probation Officers has agreed a short delay in its legal action against Justice Secretary Chris Grayling over contracts for new probation organisations.

It said in a message to members that “a very short further period of time is being given for the Secretary of State to respond to our substantive points”.

Grayling had confirmed that no contracts for the sale of community rehabilitation companies (CRCs) would be signed before 24 November, it said.

NAPO objects to the creation of the 21 companies in place of the 35 former probation trusts of England and Wales, as they are due to be sold off to the private sector.

CRCs will deal with less serious offenders with other cases going to a national probation service.

NAPO said there was scope for a judicial review over the intended decision to select successful bidders for CRCs and enter contracts with them before completing a full further testing analysis of the new arrangements, which took effect in June.

It is also objecting to what it said was Grayling’s decision not to reveal the results of the previous testing processes.

Mark Smulian