Threat to hundreds of Sodexo probation jobs in the East

More than 400 probation jobs are threatened with the axe under "drastic" cuts in a number of centres across the country, according to unions.

Sodexo was said to be planning to lay off 436 staff at six community rehabilitation companies it runs.

Unions said jobs would be lost in regions including Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.

The company was accused of seeking to impose a severance package worth less than half what members are owed.

Ben Priestley, national officer for Unison, said: "Sodexo made £39.6 million operating profit last year, so the company's pleas, that giving staff their contractual entitlement to redundancy pay is too expensive, rings very hollow for our members."

"The company should do the decent thing and pay up now."

A Sodexo Justice Services spokesperson said: "We have shared details of a voluntary severance offer and our proposed staffing levels with employees at our six community rehabilitation companies.

"Given that we are formally consulting on plans, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage."