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Wales’ privatised probations service faces “disaster” unions are warning after the company which now runs it says if intends to make budget cuts of 40%.

Working Links was awarded the contract to run the probation service last year, and does so through a newly created firm called Wales Community Rehabilitation Company (WCRC).

Glyn Jones, a regional organiser with the trade union Unison, said: “We must be told by WCRC why this is happening, how many staff are threatened and how the service can be viable next year when £4 in every £10 has disappeared.

'Christmas bombshell'

“There is never a good time to throw people out of their jobs but to drop this bombshell over Christmas is insensitive and will cause a lot of worry in many households this year when families should be enjoying themselves.

"At a time when Home Office ministers are talking about reducing numbers in prisons, the probation service which looks after people with non-custodial sentences is being slashed to the bone.

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"Unison said when it was sold off to private companies it would be a disaster waiting to happen; it looks like that time is now very close.

"A service created to rehabilitate and support those who had lost their way will become one where resources are stretched to maximise profits and the critical needs of those at its centre are forgotten.”

'Streamlining services'

A Working Links spokesman said: “Since taking on the CRCs, we have been open and transparent about the need to make efficiency savings.

"We have been in long discussions with the unions who understand the situation.

"After careful consideration, we are starting to streamline our support services across the business and have opened up opportunities for voluntary redundancy for those wishing to leave our CRCs.

"This will be an enhanced package and it is our aim, wherever possible, to avoid compulsory redundancies.

“We are now consulting with the unions and our people on our proposed new way of working across the organisation.

"At this stage we are simply looking for expressions of interest of those people who may wish to leave the organisation.

"This is a complex change programme that will last some months."

'Proposed changes'

The spokesman added: “Change is always unsettling and we are working to ensure that there will be as seamless a transition as possible.

“We will ensure that probation officers can continue to focus on supporting offenders and reducing rates of reoffending.

"And our goal is to give them even more front-line time to do this by reducing some of the non-essential back-office work that they are currently required to do.

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“As part of our proposed changes we are considering a split between physical face-to-face interactions with service users and a more remote delivery of services.

“We are consulting with the unions and our people on all potential changes. Our front line delivery will not be negatively impacted by our proposed changes. At all times we will ensure we deliver a safe service.”