A government minister visited probation staff to discuss controversial changes to privatise the probation service.

Chris Grayling, Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, met staff at the Essex headquarters in Braintree Road, Witham.

In June, Essex Probation was split into two organisations.

The Essex Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) now has 70 per cent of the old organisation’s former staff and takes on the bulk of probation work, while the remaining third of staff are part of the National Probation Service, responsible for reports to the courts and for dealing with high-risk offenders.

Unlike many other counties, which have merged their probation services into larger areas, Essex remains separate.

However, each of the country’s 21 CRCs are up for share sale and the Government is due to decide by the end of the year which bidder will take on each organisation.

Mr Grayling will retain a ‘golden’ share against any future possible reductions in service by any privately-owned CRC.

It is thought that about four organisations are bidding for Essex.

Some Essex Probation employees have been working in their spare time on forming a Staff Mutual, which has put forward its own bid.