Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 28
28
Deferred
Probation Service faces severe strain, requiring prioritisation if offender volumes increase
Recommendation
MoJ assured us that it models the impact of any demand and supply measures on staffing levels and has governance structures in place to ensure the system can cope with proposed changes.93 However, HMPPS 84 Ministry of Justice, Economic and social costs of reoffending - GOV.UK, July 2019 85 Qq 65, 72, 81 86 Qq 72–75 87 Qq 65–66 88 Q 99 89 Ministry of Justice, Annual Statement on Prison Capacity: 2024, December 2024, page 9 90 C&AG’s Report, para 3.9 91 Q 99 92 Ministry of Justice, probation press release, 12 February 2025 93 Q 100 17 acknowledged that if decisions from the sentencing review lead to increased volumes of offenders under the Probation Service, it will need to look at how it will prioritise work due to the strain the system is already under.94 94 Q 100 18
Government Response Summary
The government will provide an update to the Committee two months after the Independent Sentence Review publishes its final report on plans to improve the rehabilitative environment in prisons, the implications for probation and community support, and how the impact of changes will be monitored and evaluated.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: The department will update the Committee two months after the Independent Sentence Review publishes its final report. 6.2 Following the publication of the Government response to the Independent Sentencing Review, the MoJ will provide an update to the Committee on plans to improve the rehabilitative environment in prisons; on the implications for probation and for community support; and how the impact of changes will be monitored and evaluated.