THE government must “shoulder its share of responsibility” for the long-term failures in the probation service that contributed to the murder of Zara Aleena, Labour has said. 

Shadow justice secretary Steve Reed said ministers had failed to act with urgency to tackle staff shortages and excessive workloads in the service, despite several key recommendations to do so by inspectors. 

These problems were cited in a damning report by Chief Inspector of Probation Justin Russell on Monday that unveiled how serious failings by probation officers had left violent sex offender John McSweeney free to murder and sexually assault Ms Aleena.