Hertfordshire Probation Delivery Unit (PDU) has received an overall rating of ‘Requires improvement’ following an inspection by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation.

Martin Jones, Chief Inspector of Probation, said: “Despite some innovative approaches to service delivery, and leadership’s best efforts to reduce staff workloads, Hertfordshire PDU has been rated ‘Requires improvement’.”

Inspectors visiting Hertfordshire PDU raised concerns regarding work to keep other people safe, with risk of harm assessments failing to identify or analyse all relevant risk of harm factors, and 11 out of 54 cases inspected having an inaccurate risk of harm classification. Despite these shortcomings in assessment, managers continued countersigning these as being of sufficient quality.

The report also found that insufficient attention was given to protecting actual and potential victims in just over half of all cases inspected.

However, Hertfordshire PDU’s ability to engage people on probation is a strength for the service, with four peer mentors with lived experience of the criminal justice system used to engage people on probation in various activities.

Mr Jones added: “What we saw at Hertfordshire PDU again reflects what we are seeing nationally. Whilst there were some promising elements of practice during this inspection, priority needs to be given to reducing the risk of harm and improving the coordination of sentence plans. With a renewed focus on these areas, improvements should be possible.”

The report makes seven recommendations to Hertfordshire PDU, including to ensure middle managers have sufficient capacity to provide the appropriate level of oversight and to improve the use of interventions to support the desistance of people on probation.

ENDS

Notes to editor

1. Probation Delivery Units (PDUs) replaced Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) and the National Probation Service (NPS), which merged into a unified Probation Service in June 2021.
2. Hertfordshire PDU is one of eight PDUs in the East of England probation region.
3. The report is available at justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation on 16 July 2024.
4. HM Inspectorate of Probation is the independent inspector of youth justice and probation services across England and Wales.
5. The Inspectorate uses a four-point scale: ‘Outstanding’, ‘Good’, ‘Requires improvement’ and ‘Inadequate’. The Inspectorate rates specific aspects of each service and also gives an overall rating.
6. Fieldwork for this inspection took place in April 2024.
7. For media enquiries, please contact Louise Cordell, Head of Communications 07523 805224 / media@hmiprobation.gov.uk (E-mail address)