Probation union Napo has welcomed support from service chiefs after a national newspaper revealed letters to Justice Secretary Chris Grayling warning his privatisation plans would result in deaths.

Mr Grayling intends to sell off 70 per cent of the probation service to dodgy security companies by April 2014.

But it was reported yesterday that the chairs of Warwickshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire probation trusts have told him to slow down ill-conceived plans.