Probation is in perpetual crisis. How can it cope with prison reforms?

"Martin Jones, the chief inspector of probation, said the reforms currently progressing through parliament under the Sentencing Bill are an opportunity to transform our justice system. But he warned they risk collapsing public confidence in probation if they are implemented wrongly, adding that tagging will not stop criminals from reoffending unless they have enough trained staff to help them turn their life around."

"Unions representing beleaguered probation officers also fear a promised 700million cash injection to meet the extra demand will be swallowed up by expensive contracts with private tagging firms, rather than used to bolster frontline staff. It comes after the government spending watchdog, the National Audit Office, found the service faces a shortfall of 3,150 full time staff next year even if it meets ambitious recruitment targets."

Britain faces overflowing prisons and ministers plan to expand electronic tagging and community punishments for tens of thousands of offenders. The Probation Service is in crisis, with too few staff, excessive caseloads and units missing 74 percent of targets. The chief inspector of probation warned Sentencing Bill reforms could collapse public confidence if implemented without sufficient trained probation staff. Unions fear a promised £700 million will be absorbed by private tagging contracts instead of frontline roles. The National Audit Office projects a shortfall of 3,150 full-time staff next year, and police expect a 6 percent rise in reported crime.

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