Probation service performance
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.
The Impacts of COVID-19
Probation acted swiftly in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, adapting systems and processes to rapidly determine the delivery levels possible and mobilising teams to achieve this at pace. This included ensuring face to face contact remained with those people on probation posing the highest risk and introducing new, innovative ways of working to supervise others and to continue to deliver other aspects of probation.
Delivery has continued to adapt in response to restrictions both locally and nationally. The development of Exceptional Delivery Models enabled Regional Probation Directors to take decisions around what services they are able to provide in their regions based on local circumstances, and flex these quickly as the situation changes. The Probation Service has since driven recovery progress forward as quickly as restrictions have allowed, in line with Public Health and Health and Safety guidance. All regions in England and Wales ceased to use their Covid Exceptional Delivery Models on 31st January 2022 and transitioned onto a Prioritisation Framework. This Framework allows Regional Probation Directors to focus on delivering key public protection responsibilities and have flexibility to adjust or pause other delivery areas identified in the framework if needed.
Visit prisons and probation statistics for data sources and more details.
Judicial engagement (SL001)
Percentage of the Judiciary who are satisfied with probation services in each twelve-month period.
Apr 2022-Mar 2023
65.8%
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Community performance annual publication.
Publication date
Published: 27 July 2023.
Initial appointment for community sentences (SL004)
The percentage of persons under a community sentence who have an in person appointment, either in office or by home visit, arranged to take place no later than 5 business days after sentence.
Jan-Mar 2023
90.8%
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Community performance annual publication.
Publication date
Published: 27 July 2023.
Initial appointment for releases from custody (SL005)
The percentage of persons who have an office or home visit appointment arranged to take place no later than one business day after release. For those released immediately from court following a period of remand, the timescale shall be three business days.
Jan-Mar 2023
95.9%
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Community performance annual publication.
Publication date
Published: 27 July 2023.
Initial sentence plan for community sentences and custodial releases (SL006)
The percentage of persons with a community sentence or a release from custody on licence for whom a sentence plan is completed within 15 business days after attendance at their first appointment.
Jan-Mar 2023
82.5%
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Community performance annual publication.
Publication date
Published: 27 July 2023.
Timely risk management plans (SL010)
The percentage of Recall Part B (Risk Management Plan) documents which are supplied to the Offender Management Public Protection Group within the required timescale of a person's return to custody; to inform about the level of risk and to enable a timely decision about release or ongoing detention to be made.
Jan-Mar 2023
91.7%
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Community performance annual publication.
Publication date
Published: 27 July 2023.
Timely parole reports (SL011)
The percentage of indeterminate and determinate parole assessment reports (PAROM1s) that are sent within the timescale specified by the HMPPS Offender Management and Public Protection Group.
Jan-Mar 2023
86.5%
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Community performance annual publication.
Publication date
Published: 27 July 2023.
Completion of targeted interventions for people convicted of sexual offences (SL012)
Successful completions of rehabilitative activities, including accredited programmes, structured interventions and the approved suite of probation practitioner toolkits (ASPPT). Where the terminated cases are convicted of a sexual offence.
Jan-Mar 2023
57.5%
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Community performance annual publication.
Publication date
Published: 27 July 2023.
Housed on release from custody (SL014)
The proportion of individuals in settled or temporary accommodation on the night of release from custody.
Jan-Mar 2023
83.3%
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Community performance annual publication.
Publication date
Published: 27 July 2023.
Settled accommodation at 3 months post release from custody (SL015a)
The proportion of individuals in settled accommodation at three months post release for custodial sentences.
Jan-Mar 2023
72.7%
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Community performance annual publication.
Publication date
Published: 27 July 2023.
Settled accommodation at 3 months post community (SL015b)
The proportion of individuals in settled accommodation at three months post disposal for community sentences.
Jan-Mar 2023
82.0%
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Community performance annual publication.
Publication date
Published: 27 July 2023.
Employed at 6 weeks post release from custody (SL016)
The proportion of individuals in employment at six weeks after release from custody.
Jan-Mar 2023
16.4%
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Community performance annual publication.
Publication date
Published: 27 July 2023.
Employed at 6 months post release from custody (SL017a)
The proportion of individuals in employment at six months post release for custodial sentences.
Jan-Mar 2023
26.4%
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Community performance annual publication.
Publication date
Published: 27 July 2023.
Employed at 6 months post community disposal (SL017b)
The proportion of individuals in employment at six months post disposal for community sentences.
Jan-Mar 2023
41.8%
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Community performance annual publication.
Publication date
Published: 27 July 2023.
Persons engaged (SL020)
Percentage of persons on probation with an overall positive experience of engagement in each survey.
Apr 2022-Mar 2023
71.7%
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Community performance annual publication.
Publication date
Published: 27 July 2023.
Unpaid work starts within 15 business days of sentence (SL027)
The percentage of unpaid work requirements that have had unpaid work arranged by the probation service to start within 15 business days of the sentence date of that requirement.
Jan-Mar 2023
56.9%
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Community performance annual publication.
Publication date
Published: 27 July 2023.
Unpaid work completions within 12 months (SL029)
The percentage of successful completions of unpaid work requirements within 12 months of the original sentence date where the person is subject to a community order, suspended sentence order or supervision default order that contains an unpaid work requirement.
Jan-Mar 2023
50.6%
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Community performance annual publication.
Publication date
Published: 27 July 2023.