Women in Prison respond to reported “major shortfalls” in Probation Service

A new report from HM Inspectorate of Probation looking at how effectively HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) is ‘working to support, enable, and drive’ the delivery of probation services across England and Wales found that it “requires improvement”. The inspection report found that the service is not “adequately prepared to respond effectively” to expected changes across the criminal justice system and found “major shortfalls” in service delivery.

The report pointed to high workloads and a shortfall of probations officers in some regions as well as a need for strengthened leadership as the reason for the shortfalls.

It also noted that additional processes are not needed to improve the management of people on probation but there needs to be “operational stability for well-trained frontline officers, with access to the right resources, and supportive yet robust leadership is required.”

Sonya Ruparel, Chief Executive, from Women in Prison commented:

“This inspection report paints a picture of a probation service that is overstretched, under-resourced and without a clear plan for what it should be achieving. This is ultimately leading to the failure to meet the needs of women in the justice system.

“We have welcomed the government’s recognition that the vast majority of women shouldn’t be in prison and their commitment to reducing the women’s prison population through the recently appointed Women’s Justice Board. But that ambition cannot be realised without a probation service that is properly funded, staffed, and that commissions activity based on a true analysis of what services women need.

“It is essential this is rectified, and we urge the government to ensure the strategic oversight and delivery of probation services enables the overarching ambitions and expected strategy of the Women’s Justice Board to be achieved. Only then can we build a justice system that truly supports women and reduces the prison population in a meaningful, lasting way.”

ENDS

Notes to editors
  • Women in Prison (WIP) is a national charity that delivers support for women affected by the criminal justice system in prisons, in the community and through our Women's Centres. We campaign to end the harm caused to women, their families and our communities by imprisonment.
  • As of September 2024, there were 3,524 women were in prison and as of June 2024, 21,282 were supervised by the probation service