Why has the reformed Probation Service’s performance gotten worse?
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will hold a scrutiny session on the efficiency and resilience of the Probation Service
Meeting details
The Probation Service is suffering from poor performance and persistent staffing shortages, particularly of qualified probation officers. The National Audit Office in its recent report found a service under significant strain following reforms in 2021, meeting only 26% (seven out of 27) of its performance targets in 2024-25.
While HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) has made efforts at recruitment and retention, in 2024 it found it had been underestimating the number of sentence management staff by around 40% (around 6,900 full-time equivalent staff.) This meant it had been operating with only about half the staff needed to manage offenders' sentences.
In an evidence session with senior officials from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and HMPPS, the PAC will seek answers as to why probation performance has gotten worse, not better, despite past reforms. Other likely topics for questioning include the management of the Our Future Probation Service programme, and how this will achieve its planned aims to reduce workloads by 25%.