Probation data

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.


Percentage of the Judiciary who are satisfied with probation services in each twelve-month period.

Period Judicial engagement (SL001)
Apr-Jun 2021
Jul-Sep 2021
Oct-Dec 2021
Jan-Mar 2022 67.0%

Jan-Mar 2022

67.0%

Data source

Community performance annual

Published: 26 August 2022. Next publication: 27 July 2023 9:30am.


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.

Period Initial appointment for community sentences (SL004)
Apr-Jun 2021
Jul-Sep 2021
Oct-Dec 2021 72.7%
Jan-Mar 2022 78.6%

Jan-Mar 2022

78.6%

Data source

Community performance annual

Published: 26 August 2022. Next publication: 27 July 2023 9:30am.


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.

Period Initial appointment for releases from custody (SL005)
Apr-Jun 2021
Jul-Sep 2021
Oct-Dec 2021 90.5%
Jan-Mar 2022 92.2%

Jan-Mar 2022

92.2%

Data source

Community performance annual

Published: 26 August 2022. Next publication: 27 July 2023 9:30am.


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.

Period Initial sentence plan for community sentences and custodial releases (SL006)
Apr-Jun 2021
Jul-Sep 2021
Oct-Dec 2021 86.7%
Jan-Mar 2022 85.0%

Jan-Mar 2022

85.0%

Data source

Community performance annual

Published: 26 August 2022. Next publication: 27 July 2023 9:30am.


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.

Period Timely risk management plans (SL010)
Apr-Jun 2021
Jul-Sep 2021
Oct-Dec 2021 89.9%
Jan-Mar 2022 91.6%

Jan-Mar 2022

91.6%

Data source

Community performance annual

Published: 26 August 2022. Next publication: 27 July 2023 9:30am.


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.

Period Timely parole reports (SL011)
Apr-Jun 2021
Jul-Sep 2021
Oct-Dec 2021 85.0%
Jan-Mar 2022 85.8%

Jan-Mar 2022

85.8%

Data source

Community performance annual

Published: 26 August 2022. Next publication: 27 July 2023 9:30am.


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.

Period Completion of targeted interventions for people convicted of sexual offences (SL012)
Apr-Jun 2021
Jul-Sep 2021 48.0%
Oct-Dec 2021 45.9%
Jan-Mar 2022 49.3%

Jan-Mar 2022

49.3%

Data source

Community performance annual

Published: 26 August 2022. Next publication: 27 July 2023 9:30am.


The proportion of individuals in settled or temporary accommodation on the night of release from custody.

Period Housed on release from custody (SL014)
Apr-Jun 2021
Jul-Sep 2021 67.7%
Oct-Dec 2021 76.4%
Jan-Mar 2022 77.6%

Jan-Mar 2022

77.6%

Data source

Community performance annual

Published: 26 August 2022. Next publication: 27 July 2023 9:30am.


The proportion of individuals in settled accommodation at three months post release for custodial sentences.

Period Settled accommodation at 3 months post release from custody (SL015a)
Apr-Jun 2021
Jul-Sep 2021 67.8%
Oct-Dec 2021 67.9%
Jan-Mar 2022 71.0%

Jan-Mar 2022

71.0%

Data source

Community performance annual

Published: 26 August 2022. Next publication: 27 July 2023 9:30am.


The proportion of individuals in settled accommodation at three months post disposal for community sentences.

Period Settled accommodation at 3 months post community (SL015b)
Apr-Jun 2021
Jul-Sep 2021 74.9%
Oct-Dec 2021 78.7%
Jan-Mar 2022 80.8%

Jan-Mar 2022

80.8%

Data source

Community performance annual

Published: 26 August 2022. Next publication: 27 July 2023 9:30am.


The proportion of individuals in employment at six weeks after release from custody.

Period Employed at 6 weeks post release from custody (SL016)
Apr-Jun 2021
Jul-Sep 2021 9.7%
Oct-Dec 2021 11.9%
Jan-Mar 2022 12.7%

Jan-Mar 2022

12.7%

Data source

Community performance annual

Published: 26 August 2022. Next publication: 27 July 2023 9:30am.


The proportion of individuals in employment at six months post release for custodial sentences.

Period Employed at 6 months post release from custody (SL017a)
Apr-Jun 2021
Jul-Sep 2021 12.4%
Oct-Dec 2021 16.6%
Jan-Mar 2022 19.8%

Jan-Mar 2022

19.8%

Data source

Community performance annual

Published: 26 August 2022. Next publication: 27 July 2023 9:30am.


The proportion of individuals in employment at six months post disposal for community sentences.

Period Employed at 6 months post community disposal (SL017b)
Apr-Jun 2021
Jul-Sep 2021 32.3%
Oct-Dec 2021 36.2%
Jan-Mar 2022 38.9%

Jan-Mar 2022

38.9%

Data source

Community performance annual

Published: 26 August 2022. Next publication: 27 July 2023 9:30am.


Percentage of persons on probation with an overall positive experience of engagement in each survey.

Period Persons engaged (SL020)
Apr-Jun 2021
Jul-Sep 2021
Oct-Dec 2021
Jan-Mar 2022 74.6%

Jan-Mar 2022

74.6%

Data source

Community performance annual

Published: 26 August 2022. Next publication: 27 July 2023 9:30am.


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.

Period Unpaid work starts within 15 business days of sentence (SL027)
Apr-Jun 2021
Jul-Sep 2021
Oct-Dec 2021 28.7%
Jan-Mar 2022 33.6%

Jan-Mar 2022

33.6%

Data source

Community performance annual

Published: 26 August 2022. Next publication: 27 July 2023 9:30am.


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.

Period Unpaid work completions within 12 months (SL029)
Apr-Jun 2021
Jul-Sep 2021
Oct-Dec 2021 33.3%
Jan-Mar 2022 36.4%

Jan-Mar 2022

36.4%

Data source

Community performance annual

Published: 26 August 2022. Next publication: 27 July 2023 9:30am.