Chief Inspector of Probation resigns over conflict of interest

Paul McDowell has resigned as chief inspector of probation in England and Wales after a long conflict of interest dispute, reports PoliticsHome. Last year it was revealed that his wife was deputy managing director of Sodexo, a private company that went on to win the largest number of contracts to run probation services. 

McDowell says that he disclosed his wife's role when he was appointed by Justice Secretary Chris Grayling in Novermber 2013. Grayling insists that he considered 'all of the potential mechanisms and systems that could be introduced and used to manage any actual or perceived conflict of interest.'