BOLTON North East MP David Crausby, pictured, is lobbying people to take part in a consultation on the future of the probation service.

The government has outlined plans for the probation service to be replaced with private companies and voluntary sector organisations by 2015.

Unions claim as much as 70 per cent of the work currently done by the probation service will move to private and voluntary sector providers.

Mr Crausby said: “The government has proposed a radical change to a service that has proven to be successful. I think it is important that people have the chance to express their opinions on this and I urge people to take part in the consultation.”

The consultation will be open until February 22. For details of the proposals, which can be read in ful go to justice.gov.uk/consultations.