Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Acknowledged
Probation officer workloads remain excessively high despite prioritisation measures and new programmes.
Conclusion
HMPPS first introduced a prioritisation framework to help reduce staff workloads in 2022. But workloads remained high, in particular for probation officers, who were working at around 118% capacity on average, with highs of 126% in some regions including London and East of England.15 Despite this, HMPPS did not introduce further prioritisation measures until its ‘Reset’ scheme in April 2024, and then its ‘Impact’ scheme in April 2025.16 HMPPS stressed that its Reset and Impact schemes, which involved reducing supervision for lower-risk individuals to allow probation officers to focus on higher-risk offenders, were aimed at improving performance.17 HMPPS explained that it took time for trainee probation officers to become fully qualified, but that the flow of new probation officers, coupled with ‘Reset’ and ‘Impact’, was starting to make a difference.18 It also pointed to its Our Future Probation Service programme, which it hopes will reduce workloads to a manageable level by March 2027.19 9 C&AG’s Report, para 5, Figure 5 10 Qq 3, 6 11 RPS002; RPS0003 12 Qq 3, 10 13 Qq 10–15, 37 14 C&AG’s Report, para 2.6 15 C&AG’s Report, paras 2.14–2.15 16 Qq 5, 28, 45, 64 17 Qq 22, 44, 45, 51; C&AG’s Report, para 2.16 18 Qq 35, 37,38 19 Qq 63, 80 10
Government Response Summary
The government agrees that the Probation Service should demonstrate improvements, focusing on implementing the Sentencing Act and independent sentencing review, establishing a sustainable delivery model, and introducing a revised performance framework by April 2026.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 1.2 The government expects the Probation Service to demonstrate measurable and sustained improvements in performance over the current spending review period, concluding in March 2029. 1.3 In year 1 (to March 2027), delivery will focus on implementing the Sentencing Act and the recommendations arising from the independent sentencing review to establish a sustainable delivery model. HMPPS is refining how it measures performance to provide clearer direction and ensure system-wide focus on the areas most strongly linked to public protection and reduced reoffending. A revised performance framework, centred on a smaller number of priority metrics, will be introduced in April 2026. Improvement plans for each priority metric will be embedded at national, regional and area levels, supported by clear trajectories to track progress over time. This tighter focus is expected to strengthen operational delivery, including more consistent risk management, improved completion of key activities, and stronger compliance with core operating standards. 1.4 In year 2 (to March 2028) focus will be on embedding these reforms and accelerating measurable improvements against the priority metrics set in year one. Through this period, HMPPS would expect to see further improvements in the quality and timeliness of court and community assessments, strengthening case supervision, and increasing workforce stability and probation officer availability. 1.5 In year 3 (to March 2029), the government expects the Probation Service to be positioned to achieve the full set of probation performance ambitions. 1.6 Progress will continue to be monitored through established performance governance mechanisms.