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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Rajeev Syal Home affairs editor

Union warns of probation officer shortage ahead of prisoners’ early releases

Prisoners leaving the F wing at Wandsworth prison
Wandsworth prison. About 5,500 prisoners will be released early in the coming year. Photograph: Andrew Aitchison/Corbis/Getty Images

Ministers will struggle to prepare for next month’s early release of thousands of prisoners, a union has warned, after the latest figures showed a drop in the number of probation officers.

Ministry of Justice data shows there were 178 fewer probation officers over the last quarter, as the service gets ready to monitor another 5,500 prisoners released over the next year despite deepening concerns over increased workloads for staff.

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