HM Inspectorate of Probation

ALT A picture of Martin Jones, the Chief Inspector of Probation with a quote that says we found a service with a genuine desire to improve outcomes for children, with leaders and staff working to embed child-first principles. However, risks to children and others were not analysed consistently, responsive planning was weak, and management oversight was significantly variable, leaving too many children with unmet safety and wellbeing needs.

ALT Fleming House Approved Premises (AP) Overall rating 'Good'. A picture of the Chief Inspector of Probation with a quote that says "The progress made at Fleming House reflects the commitment of staff and partners across the service to improving outcomes for residents. However, change of this scale takes time, and Fleming House has not yet reached the point where its transformation can be regarded as complete. Ensuring that this progress is sustained, and that the service retains the capacity and leadership needed to continue its improvement journey, will be critical to its future success.”

ALT Electronic monitoring in practice: The police response to electronically monitored bail conditions and the use of electronic monitoring on community sentences and post-release licences

ALT Quote from Martin Jones CBE HM Chief Inspector of Probation, "Electronic monitoring has real potential to strengthen public protection and support rehabilitation, and we found committed practitioners making the most of the tools available to them. If used properly, these tools have the potential to be guard-rails, steering an offender away from the wrong choices. But technology on its own cannot deliver these benefits. We found that many of the weaknesses we identified in 2022 persist today, with monitoring data not always well understood or used to best effect, and basic questions about who is and isn't being monitored still requiring significant manual effort to answer.”

ALT Key findings: Inspectors found dedicated officers, staff and probation practitioners working hard to respond to this growing demand. However, the inspection identified serious gaps in guidance, systems and information-sharing. National guidance for police forces on electronically monitored bail breaches was limited, and practices varied considerably between fieldwork forces. In the cases examined, alleged breaches did not consistently lead to structured consideration of risk. Poor record-keeping also made it difficult for forces to understand the demand they face and the effectiveness of their response.

ALT Within probation, regional electronic monitoring teams have improved oversight and governance, but practitioners must navigate a growing and complex range of technologies and systems. Monitoring data is often underused, and many of the challenges identified in a 2022 inspection remain evident today. The report also raises concerns about fairness, finding that His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service have yet to develop mature arrangements for understanding whether the use and outcomes of electronic monitoring differ across protected characteristics.

ALT : Lancashire Youth Justice Service (YJS). Overall rating: ‘Good’. A picture of the Chief Inspector of Probation with a quote that says "This inspection found the YJS was delivering consistently high-quality work with children and victims during a period of significant challenge and scrutiny. Strength in leadership, committed staff, and effective practice provide firm foundations for further development. Given the significant scrutiny they have faced, staff and leaders in Lancashire deserve credit for ensuring a continued focus on the day-to-day work of the YJS to help keep children and their communities safe.