HUMBERSIDE Probation Trust is to lose 20 front-line members of staff, but there will be no compulsory redundancies, it has been confirmed.

It has also been revealed that the total number of staff who face the axe has been reduced to 35, according to Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart.

Across the Humber area, 58 members of staff at Humberside Probation Trust were expected to lose their jobs as a result of efficiency savings by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) – nine of which were earmarked in Scunthorpe.

The MoJ were told to make savings of £1-million – leading to a budget reduction from £18.2-million to £17.2-million.

It comes after the department was forced to reduce spending on probation services across the country from £915-million last year to £894-million this year.

But, during a meeting with Mr Stuart earlier this week, Justice Minister David Hanson revealed that the number of staff who face the axe has been reduced to 35 full-time members of staff – 20 of which would be front-line positions.

Mr Hanson also confirmed there were "no plans" for compulsory redundancies in Humberside for 2009-10.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Stuart said: "It's disappointing that 20 front-line members of staff will be lost as a result of these budget reductions, but I'm pleased the Minister has confirmed none of these will be made through compulsory redundancies.

"Following representation from myself and fellow local MPs, I'm pleased the Minister has intervened and reduced the number of redundancies from 58 to 35.

"We all recognise that, in a tough financial climate, every penny has to be justified but public safety is and must remain our top priority.

"I will oppose bitterly any future reductions if this is put at risk."