Probation unit rated 'inadequate' over reoffending

The Ministry of Justice has overall control of the Probation Service

A probation unit has been rated "inadequate" after it was found that its ability to reduce reoffending was "insufficient".

An inspection by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation found that rates in County Durham and Darlington Probation Delivery Unit (PDU) were notably higher than the national average.

But chief probation inspector Martin Jones acknowledged the PDU had a "challenging caseload" due to the large number of cases assessed as high or very high risk of serious harm.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said: "The government inherited a criminal justice system in crisis, placing significant strain on the Probation Service."

The inspection report highlighted that insufficient attention was being paid to protecting actual and potential victims from harm.

It was also noted that the excessive workload was exacerbated by elevated sickness and recruitment difficulties.

But Mr Jones concluded that the unit's leaders were working proactively to reduce reoffending and were committed to giving those on probation opportunities to help improve the processes.

'Boosting funding'

Mr Jones said: "Despite collaborative partnership engagements and a strong commitment to engaging people on probation, the quantity and quality of work to reduce reoffending and to keep people safe at County Durham and Darlington PDU was insufficient.

"There is no doubt that practitioners [at the unit] have a challenging caseload in what is already a challenging period for the Probation Service."

The report made five recommendations to the PDU, which included providing all staff with the necessary training to undertake their roles, and ensuring domestic abuse and child safeguarding information was completed and analysed sufficiently.

A spokesperson for the MoJ added: "We are boosting probation funding by 45%, investing up to £700m more by 2028, and we are planning to recruit another 1,300 probation officers by March.

"This will ensure offenders receive robust supervision and improve the work probation does to keep the public safe."