More probation officers to protect public in South West
The government says its working with the Probation Service to reduce reoffending
68 extra probation officers are to be recruited across the South West as the government tries to cut down on reoffending.
1,500 extra officers will be joining the Probation Service this year, with a further 1,500 sought by March next year after a £310m investment.
Probation officers supervise offenders leaving prison on licence and those serving community sentences.
They protect the public by meeting regularly with offenders and ensuring they are complying with the conditions of their release from prison or sentence.
They also ensure offenders can access services that reduce the risk of them reoffending, including drug or alcohol treatment, accommodation and education.
The Probation Service was brought back under government control in 2019, after several years of being in the hands of private providers.
The privatised system was heavily criticised by both watchdogs and MPs for failing to keep track of offenders.
Since 2019, the government has spent millions on bringing the services back in-house and on schemes to prevent people reoffending.
Prisons and Probation Minister Alex Chalk said:
“Probation officers are unsung crime fighters, keeping a close eye on dangerous offenders and helping others turn their lives around so that they don’t reoffend.
“These new recruits are a key part of our plan to make the country safer, alongside 20,000 more police officers, tougher sentences and the building of 18,000 new prison places.”