The chief inspector of probation, Paul McDowell, has resigned over a conflict of interest row after his wife’s private justice company won the largest number of contracts to run probation services in England and Wales.
McDowell, who was appointed by the justice secretary, Chris Grayling, said he was resigning from the £135,000 watchdog role because although there were “measures in place to manage any conflicts of interest” it was clearly seen as a conflict of interest.
“It is imperative that any inspectorate is independent and seen to be so,” he said. “Although we have measures in place to manage any conflicts of interest, and I would always carry out my duties without fear or favour, it is clear that a perception of conflict around my post remains. It is therefore right that I resign.”
Grayling said he had considered “all of the potential mechanisms and systems that could be introduced and used to manage any actual or perceived conflict of interest. However Mr McDowell has decided that, in the circumstances, he will resign.”
The resignation follows the disclosure by the Guardian that McDowell’s wife, Janine, was managing director of Sodexo justice services, which was named as preferred bidder to supervise tens of thousands of offenders in six of the 21 probation areas in England and Wales. Sodexo took over the contracts on Sunday in partnership with Nacro, the crime reduction charity, of which McDowell was the former chief executive.
The justice secretary paid tribute to McDowell acknowledging his “assured leadership and the grounded independence” of his inspection work. “I regret that circumstances have changed and are now such that we have reached this position,” Grayling said. “At the time of his appointment Mr McDowell’s position was fully reasonable and the appropriate pre-appointment processes in place at that time were properly followed.”
The shadow justice secretary, Sadiq Khan, and the justice select committee questioned McDowell’s position after the Guardian disclosure and the failure of Grayling to disclose the potential conflict of interest at the time of his appointment in November.
