Probation data
On 26th June 2021 the privatised probation services (the Community Rehabilitation Companies) were returned to public control, and absorbed into the newly named "Probation Service". The unified Probation Service is now responsible for managing all those on a court order or licence following their release from prison in England and Wales. There are now 12 probation regions across England and Wales, introducing 11 new probation regions in England; arrangements in Wales remain unchanged.
Probation caseload overview
Supervision type
A small number (less than 20) of deferred sentences not shown. At 30 Jun 2024.
Order type
A small number (less than 10) of pre-CJA orders not shown. At 30 Jun 2024.
Sex
All probation service supervision. At 30 Jun 2024.
Offence type
Key statistics relating to offenders who are under Probation Service supervision in England and Wales.
Court order probation supervision starts
25,733
Value for Jan-Mar 2025. View time series for court order probation supervision starts
Pre-release probation supervision starts
18,090
Value for Jan-Mar 2025. View time series for pre-release probation supervision starts
Terminations of community orders
15,099
Value for Jan-Mar 2025. View time series for terminations of community orders
Terminations of suspended sentence orders
8,267
Value for Jan-Mar 2025. View time series for terminations of suspended sentence orders
Serious further offence convictions
287
Value for 2022/23. View time series for serious further offence convictions
Statistics relating to the performance of Probation service level metrics in England and Wales.
On 29 April 2024, the Probation service introduced a change in practice known as 'Probation Reset' for selected measures, where probation practitioner engagement is prioritised towards the first two-thirds of an individual's sentence. As a result, data from May 2024 onward have been recorded using a revised 'reset' methodology.
Judicial Engagement
69.8%
Value for Apr 2024 - Mar 2025. View time series for judicial engagement (SL001)
Initial appointment for community sentences
93.8%
Value for Apr 2024 - Mar 2025. View time series for initial appointment for community sentences (SL004)
Initial appointment for releases from custody
95.5%
Value for Apr 2024 - Mar 2025. View time series for initial appointment for releases from custody (SL005)
Initial sentence plan for community sentences and releases
83.6%
Value for Apr 2025. View time series for initial sentence plan for community sentences and custodial releases (SL006)
Initial sentence plan for community sentences and releases for supervised cases
86.7%
Value for May 2024 - Mar 2025. View time series for initial sentence plan for community sentences and custodial releases for supervised cases (SL006R)
Monthly appointments offered
87.4%
Value for Apr 2025. View time series for monthly appointments offered (SL007R)
Monthly appointments offered for supervised cases
89.7%
Value for May 2024 - Mar 2025. View time series for monthly appointments offered for supervised cases (SL007S)
Timely risk management plans (recall reports part B)
86.3%
Value for Jan-Mar 2024 . View time series for timely risk management plans (SL010)
Timely parole reports
82.6%
Value for Apr 2024 - Mar 2025. View time series for timely parole reports (SL011)
Completion of targeted interventions for people convicted of sexual offences
62.8%
Value for Apr 2024 - Mar 2025. View time series for completion of targeted interventions for people convicted of sexual offences (SL012R)
Requirements completed by sentence expiry
76.3%
Value for Apr 2024 - Mar 2025. View time series for requirements completed by sentence expiry (SL013)
Housed on release from custody
80.4%
Value for Apr 2024 - Mar 2025. View time series for housed on release from custody (SL014)
Settled accommodation at 3 months post release
68.1%
Value for Jan-Mar 2024 . View time series for settled accommodation at 3 months post release from custody (sl015a)
Settled accommodation at 3 months post release for supervised cases
75.4%
Value for May 2024 - Mar 2025. View time series for settled accommodation at 3 months post release for supervised cases (sl015sa)
Settled accommodation at 3 months post community disposal
84.1%
Value for Jan-Mar 2024 . View time series for settled accommodation at 3 months post community disposal (sl015b)
Settled accommodation at 3 months post community disposal for supervised cases
83.8%
Value for May 2024 - Mar 2025. View time series for settled accommodation at 3 months post community disposal for supervised cases (sl015sb)
Employed at 6 weeks post release from custody
17.7%
Value for Apr 2025. View time series for employed at 6 weeks post release from custody (SL016)
Employed at 6 weeks post release from custody for supervised cases
18.5%
Value for May 2024 - Mar 2025. View time series for employed at 6 weeks post release from custody for supervised cases (SL016R)
Employed at 6 months post release
30.1%
Value for Apr 2025. View time series for employed at 6 months post release from custody (sl017a)
Employed at 6 months post release for supervised cases
31.8%
Value for May 2024 - Mar 2025. View time series for employed at 6 months post release from custody for supervised cases (sl017ra)
Employed at 6 months post community disposal
43.3%
Value for Apr 2025. View time series for employed at 6 months post community disposal (sl017b)
Employed at 6 months post community disposal for supervised cases
44.3%
Value for May 2024 - Mar 2025. View time series for employed at 6 months post community disposal for supervised cases (sl017rb)
Persons positive experience
71.0%
Value for Apr 2024 - Mar 2025. View time series for persons engaged (SL020)
Victim satisfaction
84.7%
Value for Apr 2024 - Mar 2025. View time series for victim satisfaction (SL021)
POM/COM Handover Meeting
56.6%
Value for Apr 2024 - Mar 2025. View time series for POM/COM handover meeting (sl022r)
Pre-release sentence plans for enhanced cases
37.2%
Value for Apr 2024 - Mar 2025. View time series for pre-release sentence plans for enhanced cases (SL023)
Unpaid work assessments
85.6%
Value for Apr 2024 - Mar 2025. View time series for unpaid work assessments (SL026)
Unpaid work starts within 15 business days of sentence
71.1%
Value for Apr 2024 - Mar 2025. View time series for unpaid work starts within 15 business days of sentence (SL027)
Unpaid work stand downs
1.3%
Value for Apr 2024 - Mar 2025. View time series for unpaid work stand downs (SL028)
Unpaid work completions within 12 months
63.1%
Value for Apr 2024 - Mar 2025. View time series for unpaid work completions within 12 months (SL029)
Accredited programme starts (targeted)
86.1%
Value for Apr 2024 - Mar 2025. View time series for accredited programme starts (targeted) (SL031)
Accredited programme completions (targeted)
52.5%
Value for Apr 2024 - Mar 2025. View time series for accredited programme completions (targeted) (SL033)
Recording protected characteristics
99.2%
Value for Jan-Mar 2024 . View time series for recording protected characteristics (targeted) (SL040R)
Recording protected characteristics for supervised cases
99.2%
Value for Mar 2025. View time series for recording protected characteristics for supervised cases (SL040U)
Additional information on the operation of the Probation Service.
On 26th June 2021 the privatised probation services (the Community Rehabilitation Companies) were returned to public control, and absorbed into the newly named "Probation Service". The unified Probation Service is now responsible for managing all those on a court order or licence following their release from prison in England and Wales. There are now 12 probation regions across England and Wales, introducing 11 new probation regions in England; arrangements in Wales remain unchanged.
Staff in post (PS)
21,022
Value for March 2025. View time series for staff in post (probation service)
Average working days lost to sickness (PS)
13.3 days
Value for 2024-25. View time series for staff sickness (probation service)