Probation staff in Chatham have today walked out in a row over privatisation.

Around a dozen members of the trade union Napo are taking action against plans to privatise 70% of the service.

Under government proposals, private companies and charities would take over much of the Probation Service.

Firms are bidding for contracts worth more than £450 million to supervise low and medium-risk offenders.

Workers began their strike outside their office in New Road at noon today, and plan to hand out leaflets to shoppers in the High Street later.

The members were joined by an effigy of justice secretary Chris Grayling, the man behind the plans.

Laura Webb, a member of the union's Kent executive, said: "It’s going too fast, and it’s untested; there have been no pilots of this at all.

"Secondly, they’re planning to outsource it to companies that haven’t got a very good record and are being investigated for fraud by the government."

The workers will end their picket at noon tomorrow.

The Ministry of Justice said it has contingency plans in place to deal with the strike.

Napo, which represents 9,000 staff nationally, said it is only the fourth time in the trade union's history that it has announced industrial action.

About 80% of members are said to have voted to go on strike.

Probation staff on strike in Chatham today.