Probation still struggling to protect the public

Context

Fifty-six instances have been inspected the place the Inspectorate examined evaluation, planning, implementation and supply, and reviewing, all by means of the lens of public safety work. On the time of the inspection (November 2025) the area was implementing a number of nationwide insurance policies aimed toward managing workloads throughout the jail and probation estates, together with jail early launch schemes, Probation Reset, Impression and modifications to recall coverage.

On the time this inspection was introduced (October 2025), the area was working with just below two-thirds of the goal staffing for probation officers, reflective of the longstanding staffing challenges for the area linked to proximity to London, excessive prices of residing and excessive numbers of PQiP (skilled qualification in probation) withdrawals.

Findings

Case inspections highlighted that for each evaluation and implementation and supply, lower than half of the instances met the required commonplace to maintain folks protected. Planning and reviewing met the required commonplace in simply over half of instances.Whereas adequate work to maintain folks protected was not evident in sufficient of the instances inspected, this report’s outcomes do point out an upward trajectory within the KSS area for the reason that Inspectorate’s Might 2024 regional inspection.Specifically, organisational supply demonstrated notable enchancment in public safety work than had been evident in earlier inspections.Giant scale change and responses to jail overpopulation in addition to delays in sentencing had a destabilising impact on folks on probation which made public safety work in KSS tougher.Probation Reset preparations have been exterior the area’s management, nevertheless they’d a detrimental affect on public safety work. Regional leaders have been implementing a mannequin to switch all reset instances to a devoted hub, although this course of was nonetheless being refined and audited.Challenges confronted in managing threat to the general public have been compounded by longstanding staffing challenges

Conclusions

Mr Jones summed up the inspection report:

“Regardless of ongoing challenges, we have been inspired to see the area had launched a variety of modern methods to optimise sources, together with the usage of expertise and synthetic intelligence, and was working to handle coaching gaps to enhance the standard of case administration, regardless of restricted sources.

Whereas adequate work to maintain folks protected was not evident in sufficient of the instances we inspected, we have been inspired to see strategic progress in strengthening public safety work, improved workers accountability and engagement, and a dedication to constructing a tradition that supported studying and psychological security.”

This report makes 5 suggestions. Two of those are for the KSS area, together with to make sure probation service officers have adequate expertise, information and expertise to adequately assess, plan, work with and assessment threat of hurt to others. Three suggestions are for HMPPS together with to develop a nationwide strategic strategy to data sharing with police and youngsters’s companies.

It would take a number of months at the least to see whether or not this initiative from the Chief Inspector makes a constructive affect in driving up the standard of public safety work throughout the probation service. Staffing ranges will inevitably be a very powerful consider figuring out this.