CHRIS GRAYLING’S “obsession” with privatisation has “all but destroyed the probation service,” the head of the offender rehabilitation union has said.

Ian Lawrence, general secretary of probation officers’ union Napo, told the POA conference yesterday: “We need a massive change of emphasis from this government … and ultimately a complete change in the political complexion of government to finally bring an end to the shambles of privatisation.”

Serial bungler and current Transport Secretary Mr Grayling part-privatised the service in 2014 when he was justice secretary in a move that outsourced the monitoring of lower-risk offenders.