THE “ill-judged privatisation” of the probation service has made services “profit-driven rather than people-driven,” Labour’s Ellie Reeves blasted yesterday.

Opening a Westminster Hall debate, Lewisham MP Ms Reeves said the changes meant probation was “turning into a tick-box exercise, but it is not a profession that should be driven by targets.”

Former justice secretary Chris Grayling oversaw the changes, which meant low and medium-risk offenders were monitored by staff from community rehabilitation companies (CRCs), all but one of which are run by private firms.