Probation Services, also known as Probation Delivery Units (PDUs*), in two areas of the North East have been rated ‘Good’ and ‘Requires improvement’, respectively, following inspections by HM Inspectorate of Probation.

South Tyneside and Gateshead PDU has been rated ‘Good’ – this is the highest rating a PDU has achieved in this inspection cycle since the Probation Service was re-unified in June 2021.

Redcar, Cleveland and Middlesbrough PDU has been rated ‘Requires improvement’. However, inspectors noted ‘numerous positives’ about the service, including a stable workforce and reasonable vacancy levels – a factor which had been absent from many of the services the Inspectorate has visited so far.

Chief Inspector of Probation Justin Russell said: “We are seeing green shoots of hope from these two inspections, to the credit of everyone involved and the benefit of people in the North East. It’s been an extremely challenging 18 months for probation services, and I’ve been disappointed in the results from our inspections up until now, but these services are very much bucking a trend in the quality delivered and regards to a more stable workforce.

“In South Tyneside and Gateshead PDU, we found an industrious workforce and a commitment to supporting people on probation. Their workloads are reasonable – something which we have not seen in most other PDUs – so probation officers can focus on the needs of each person under their supervision. Notably, their work with people coming out of custody and the process of bringing them back into the community impressed our inspectors. All of this, working in harmony, means that the likelihood of someone reoffending is reduced and there are less victims of crime. There are areas for improvement, not least in how they assess the risk of harm someone poses, but the future looks bright.

“For Redcar, Cleveland and Middlesbrough PDU, though the rating was ‘Requires improvement’, we did find an impressive and committed team that has weathered the storm of the June 2021 transition and recovery from Covid-19 well. They have a positive culture and a determination to improve, but this attitude hasn’t translated into their work with people on probation. We want to see better planning around the risks people may pose to the local community, which was of an inconsistent quality, and improved accommodation options for people leaving prison. However, they have the right foundations to move forward, and I look forward to seeing how they develop.”

Inspectors made 11 recommendations to South Tyneside and Gateshead PDU, including that they improve their work with addressing the diversity needs of people on probation in their local area, have better contingencies in place for higher-risk offenders and ensure domestic abuse and child safeguarding checks are made in all cases.

Redcar, Cleveland and Middlesbrough PDU received seven recommendations, including that they improve their work around informing other agencies about the risk of harm a person may pose and ensure that the diversity of a person on probation is analysed. Inspectors also found that some probation offices did not have adequate Wi-Fi access and that this needs to be rectified.

The Inspectorate has written to the Probation Service – North East region to summarise its findings and recommendations.

Read the Regional Probation Directorate review letter here.

Read the reports:

An inspection of probation services in South Tyneside and Gateshead PDU – North East England region (published 22 December 2022)

An inspection of probation services in Redcar, Cleveland and Middlesbrough PDU – North East England region (published  22 December 2022)

ENDS

Notes to editor

1. *Probation Delivery Units (PDUs) replaced Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) and the National Probation Service (NPS), which merged into a unified Probation Service in June 2021.
2. These probation services sit within the Probation Service – North East region.
3. These reports are available at justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation on 22 December 2022 00.01.
4. HM Inspectorate of Probation is the independent inspector of youth offending and probation services across England and Wales.
5. The Inspectorate uses a four-point scale: ‘Outstanding’, ‘Good’, ‘Requires improvement’ and ‘Inadequate’. The Inspectorate rates specific aspects of each service and also gives an overall rating.
6. Fieldwork for these inspections took place in November 2022.
7. For media enquiries, please contact media@hmiprobation.gov.uk (E-mail address)