Probation service appoints new head
The new National Probation Service (NPS) has a director with Colin Allars taking on the role after his predecessor left for personal reasons.
Mr Allars is currently a probation director in the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). He replaces Mike Maiden, who stepped down soon after his appointment in August.
The new director will work with Sarah Payne, the director of the NPS in Wales, before and after its launch in April next year. The service aims to safeguard the public from as many as 30,000 dangerous offenders every year.
The appointments are a part of the Government's probation reforms designed to solve the UK's reoffending problem. Mr Allars and Ms Payne will work with private and voluntary sector organisations to help 21 Community Rehabilitation Companies provide rehabilitation for offenders who pose a low or medium risk to the public in England and Wales.
Justice Minister Jeremy Wright said it was unfortunate that Mr Maiden felt he couldn't take on the role because of family reasons, but he said Mr Allars' passion and experience for the job made him an ideal candidate to lead the new body.
