Probation Watchdog calls for cut in caseload

Ministers should consider reducing the caseload of the probation service by up to 40,000 people if they are to ease the prison overcrowding crisis, a watchdog has told the Guardian.

- Rajeev Syal

Martin Jones, the chief inspector of probation in England and Wales, said the current model was "not sustainable" and suggested ministers should free up capacity by no longer asking probation officers to monitor people released from prison after short custodial terms for crimes such as shoplifting.

Days after the justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, announced plans to release thousands of offenders from September because of the overcrowding crisis, Jones also suggested that youth justice services could take some of the probation service's workload by monitoring 18-to 21-year-olds released from prison.

About 5,500 offenders on standard determinate sentences are expected to be freed before Christmas after serving 40% of their sentences.

Responsibility for monitoring the newly released offenders on licence will fall on the probation service, whose measures can include electronic tagging and curfews.

In his first in-depth interview since joining the inspectorate in March, Jones said ministers must lighten the workload of the service, which is struggling with a rise in cases and inexperienced and overworked staff.