Home Office presses ahead with reforms

The government confirmed this week it still plans to restructure the probation service.

Home Office minister Fiona Mactaggart told parliament that legislation would be introduced “as soon as parliamentary time allows”.

The news came as it emerged that four men convicted of the murder of 16-year-old Mary-Ann Leneghan in Reading were on probation at the time of the killing.

Mactaggart rejected claims that there had not been adequate consultation over the probation plans, which include allowing public, private and voluntary sector providers to compete to run services.