PROBATION staff walked out in a strike over the break-up of key services which they say will make Worcester’s streets less safe from criminals.

Representatives of the National Association of Probation Officers (Napo) were on the streets of Worcester yesterday as part of a 24-hour strike over plans “to sell off 70 per cent of the service to private companies such as Serco, Sodexo and G4S”.

But the Government branded the strike “disappointing” and said the reforms would help tackle reoffending.

Napo say these companies were not required to use “qualified staff” yet would be responsible for medium-risk offenders, including burglars, violent criminals and sex offenders.

Tania Bassett, a national official for Napo and a former probation officer in Worcester, said the action involved 170 members in the West Mercia Probation Trust, including 40 members from Worcester.

Ms Bassett said the changes would place communities at risk, undermining public protection by fragmenting a coherent and awardwinning service.

She said there was no “evidence-base” for the Government changes and reoffending had been reduced.

She said: “There is a lot of uncertainty (among probation service staff) about their own jobs and their own job security whilst having to do a very stressful and difficult job on a daily basis.

“They don’t know what’s going to happen after April 1. It is also impacting on the service we deliver.”

Further industrial action is also planned, including working to rule, when staff will work strictly to their contracted hours, with no overtime.

Justice Minister Jeremy Wright said: “It is disappointing Napo has chosen to strike when we are making positive progress in meaningful discussions with them and other relevant trade unions as we transfer to the new arrangements.

“This is a strike in favour of the status quo, which is high reoffending rates and no support for 50,000 short sentenced offenders each year who are released without any supervision and go on to commit so much crime in our communities.

“We have contingency plans to deal with any potential action. We will continue to support staff and engage with unions as our important reforms move forwards.”