Latest news with #HMInspectorateofProbation
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Yahoo
Regional probation service 'requires improvement' over failure to assess risks to victims
A regional probation service has been graded 'requires improvement' overall after an inspection found inadequate work in assessing risks to actual and potential victims. HM Inspectorate of Probation found the North Tyneside and Northumberland Probation Delivery Unit's assessments of those on probation were not sufficiently focused on keeping other people safe. According to the inspection's findings, probation workers had been unable to access enough detailed information to make informed assessments on offenders. The report found: READ MORE: The 28 North East towns and streets that will be targeted by extra police this summer READ MORE: 'Arrogant' Peterlee businessman who assaulted ex-partner breached restraining order four years later on Instagram Domestic abuse information was not requested in six out of 50 relevant safeguarding cases Child safeguarding information was not requested in 8 out of 49 safeguarding cases Domestic abuse information received was 'insufficient' in 30% of cases It was also noted the service had experienced difficulty in obtaining information from the Police when the PDU requested more detailed information. The inspectorate stated: 'Even when practitioners obtained information from these agencies, they did not use it consistently when assessing risk of harm. Disappointingly, too free assessment focused on keeping people safe. Just 50% of cases we inspected clearly identified and analysed risk of harm to others, and just over half of relevant cases (24/47) lacked sufficient analysis of specific concerns and risks to actual and potential victims." In addition, the inspection graded the PDU's reviewing of progress made by those on probation as inadequate. Probation reviews 'often failed to identify critical changes in circumstances' including new relationships or further offending. In response to the findings, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: 'The government inherited a criminal justice system in crisis, placing significant strain on the probation service. We are boosting probation funding by 45%, investing up to £700 million more by 2028, and we are planning to recruit another 1,300 probation officers by March next year. 'This will ensure offenders receive robust supervision and improve the work probation does to keep the public safe.' On a positive note, inspectors noted a 'clear commitment' to staff development and wellbeing within the PDU and improving workloads. The report also found that probation leaders improved accessibility for people living in rural communities through satellite offices and sharing office space. Our ChronicleLive Daily newsletter is free. You can sign up to receive it here. It will keep you up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from the North East.
The Sun
26-04-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Public sector staff allowed to work from foreign countries
THOUSANDS of staff at taxpayer-funded quangos have been given permission to work from the beach, a shock investigation finds. They have been granted permission to work from abroad over 2,000 times since 2019, research by the TaxPayers' Alliance found. The most common countries that staff were given permission to work from were Spain, France, Italy, Germany and Switzerland. They include the HM Inspectorate of Probation which allowed someone to work from Spain"three days prior to taking annual leave, where all meetings were undertaken remotely". And the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science which allowed a staff member to visit family during autumn school break. Some quango staff have been allowed to work in Chile, Singapore and Australia. Joanna Marchong, investigations campaign manager at the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'Taxpayers are growing ever more curious about what on earth the vast network of quangos are actually doing, and why so much power has been devolved to them. "Ministers have handed significant control of services and policy to unelected bodies frequently not based in London, limiting further their ability to hold them to account. "And it's now been revealed that many staff are not just based outside of London, they're often not based in the UK at all." Councils blasted for flying woke flags LABOUR councils have been blasted for flying woke flags for migrants, trans people and other countries like Albania. They include Waltham Forest flying the Trans Pride Flag, Birmingham City with a Europe Day flag and Oxford City with a world refugee day pendant. Waltham Forest has flown the national flag of Albania. Shadow local government secretary Kevin Hollinrake said: 'This is a totally inappropriate waste of council time.' It comes as the Conservatives warned taxpayers will foot the bill for a new army of 'Town Hall Trots'. They said Labour's workers rights bill will force up council tax because local authorities will have to spend more on 'facility time' - paying trade union representatives during work hours. Labour hit back: 'Labour is turning the page on the scorched earth approach to industrial relations we inherited from the Tories." A government spokesman said: ' We expect civil servants to spend the majority of time working from the office, and working outside of the UK must only be approved for exceptional personal circumstances such as bereavement. 'Many of these organisations stated do not employ civil servants and have their own working abroad policies. 'We are currently reviewing all arm's length bodies to examine where organisations can be closed, merged, or have powers brought back into the department.'
