02 May 2008
Cash and staff shortages are threatening to plunge the probation service into crisis, experts said last week.
Research from the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, published on April 24, paints a picture of a service struggling to cope. Although budgets have grown by 21% in real terms since 2001, this has been coupled with an increased and more complex caseload and a shortage of qualified probation staff, the report states.
The service also faces budget cuts of 3% in each of the next three years. New funding of £40m to replace short-term prison sentences with community orders is unlikely to compensate for the cuts, the report concludes. It also identifies a 'vacuum of knowledge' about how much needs to be spent to meet the shift in emphasis.
Between 2002 and 2006, the number of both qualified and trainee probation officers fell by 9%, while the ratio of offenders to qualified probation officers increased by 28% over the same period, according to the report. There are now 39 offenders per officer, compared to 31 in 2002.
Roger Grimshaw, research director at the centre, which is based at King's College, London, said: 'The statistics show there is no room for complacency about the probation service's capacity to meet the expectations of the courts and of the public. The budget has already fallen over the past two years and probation areas are having to consider reducing key staff in the face of rising needs.'
The research, based on interviews with probation staff and an analysis of workforce and financial statistics, was commissioned by Napo, the trade union for probation and family court service staff.
Harry Fletcher, Napo assistant general secretary, said: 'The government can't expect staff to supervise soaring caseloads without accepting the consequences of more re-offending and more victims. The service is at breaking point.'
Justice minister Maria Eagle said: 'Staff in the probation service do a valuable job, working effectively to cut re-offending and reduce the number of victims, which is why the government committed £40m to the service in March this year.
'On top of this funding, an additional £17m was also found for the probation service for 2008/2009. Areas have also had confirmation that they can carry over any money they did not spend last year.'
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