Probation services are found to be 'inadequate'

INSPECTION HAS REVEALED SERIOUS FAILINGS IN CITY AND COUNTY UNITS

- By LOUIS CORBETT

THE city and county's probation services have come under fire as reports disclose that improvements are required in protecting the public and people on probation, as well as noting an insufficient ability to deliver services.

Both the Nottingham City Probation Delivery Unit (PDU) and the Nottinghamshire PDU have been found to have serious failings in delivering effective and safe probation services, which has led them to receive an "inadequate" rating from the HM Inspectorate of Probation.

PDUs act as a regional unit for the management of people on probation who are serving a sentence from the Crown Prosecution Service within the community.

Nottingham City Probation Service

Inspectors of Nottingham City Probation Delivery Unit (PDU) have become concerned that the quality of work the service delivers has an "insufficient" focus on public protection, in addition to an ineffective information sharing system with other local authorities, such as the police and social services.