Probation Service: Recruitment and Retention
2026-09-15
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The probation service faces significant staffing issues with thousands of vacancies and poor retention rates.
What steps has the Department taken to increase the size of the probation workforce?
The recruitment and retention of probation staff is a high priority. The Department is committed to recruiting and retaining probation staff to supervise and manage offenders in the community and keep the public safe.
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Assessment & feedback
Steps taken to increase workforce size were not specified.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The probation service has a high vacancy rate and poor retention due to a decade of pay freezes and real-term cuts.
Does the Minister accept that the £700 million announced for the probation service needs to support probation service salaries?
The retention rate has improved since the Government came to office, and discussions around pay are ongoing.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment to using funds for salaries was not given.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
A probation service released a man with a history of domestic violence, causing fear and necessitating rehousing.
Will the Minister urgently look at this case and agree to increase the probation workforce to prevent such incidents?
I am concerned to hear what the hon. Gentleman says, and I will look further into that case. We are committed to ensuring that people are safe.
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Assessment & feedback
Commitment to increase workforce was not specified.
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
There has been a decrease in probation officers while thousands of dangerous criminals are released on electronic tagging.
Can the Minister guarantee that every tagging breach will come with consequences in the next year?
We are continuing to invest in strengthening the Probation Service via recruitment and digital improvements. We are building capacity after years of the service being run down under the previous Government.
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Assessment & feedback
The question about consequences for tagging breaches was not addressed.
Building Capacity
Response accuracy