“Encouraging” public protection work found in North Eastregion of the Probation Service

Martin Jones, Chief Inspector of Probation, said: “Leaders and staff in the North East should be proud of the progress they are making. The region has built on solid structures to create a stronger operational practice in relation to public protection. While there remains work to be done, they should feel optimistic about their progress.”

Context

• This report focused specifically on public protection work being delivered across the North East region of the Probation Service.
• Sixty-one cases were inspected where the Inspectorate examined assessment, planning, implementation and delivery, and reviewing, all through the lens of public protection work. At the time of the inspection, the region supervised 11,342 people in the community or in custody.
• The North East region of the Probation Service covers seven probation delivery units (PDUs). These are: Newcastle upon Tyne, County Durham & Darlington, Redcar, Cleveland, & Middlesborough, Stockton & Hartlepool, North Tyneside & Northumberland, Sunderland, and Gateshead & South Tyneside.

Findings

• Inspectors generally found notable improvements compared with our last inspection in the North East region [see notes to editor] across all areas of assessment, planning, implementation and delivery, and reviewing, with over 60 per cent of cases evaluated to be meeting our standards for assessment and planning. These improvements evidenced, in part, the operational impact of positive initiatives and sustained strategic focus noted in our 2025 inspection.
• Structural changes had been made by leaders since our last inspection to reinforce the importance of public protection work. The public protection team had been expanded, and a deputy head of public protection had been created, as well as the development of a public protection board. Each of the seven PDUs in the region had developed their own improvement plan, and 100 per cent of respondents to a staff survey issued as part of this inspection said they were clear about what is meant by public protection.
• Some overall enhancements were noted in the quality and effectiveness of enquiries to police and children’s services. Of note was the quality and frequency of work with partner agencies and how, in many cases, practitioners managed these relationships well, demonstrating ‘professional dynamism’.
• Further work was required to improve the quality of case assessments, to ensure they drew sufficiently from all available sources of information.
• Shortfalls were found in assessment and planning, with some staff still lacking the confidence and experience to seek clarification about information they received from partner agencies.

Mr Jones added: “This has been the only region where at least half of the cases examined were evaluated to have sufficiently met all four of our key questions relating to the management of risk. As we mentioned in our last inspection [see notes to editor], many of the right systems were in place in the North East region and with continued focus improvements were likely. This is likely the fruition of that work.”

This report makes three recommendations. Two are for the region: one to ensure that probation practitioners are supported to develop the confidence and capability to manage complex caseloads alongside competing demands, and another to strengthen their ability to engage effectively with external partner agencies. The third recommendation is for HM Prison and Probation Service, to reduce delays in vetting and address workforce instability through the implementation of more streamlined and regionally responsive recruitment processes.

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. HM Inspectorate’s Dynamic Inspection of Public Protection is a new programme which started in October 2025. The Inspectorate has paused its core adult programme to undertake six months of dynamic inspection activity, focussed solely on the Service’s delivery of public protection. It will inspect all twelve regions, then deliver follow-up activity with strategic leaders and managers to identify what can be done to support and guide regional leaders into improving work, increasing knowledge and confidence and providing a solid foundation for further improvement. 
3. The North East Dynamic Inspection of Public Protection is the 12^th, and final inspection in the programme.
4. The North East region of the Probation Service was last inspected in July 2025 under our adult inspection standards where it was rated ‘Requires improvement’. The report was published in October 2025.
5. The North East region is one of 11 probation regions in England, with an additional region in Wales.
6. The report is available on our website on 20 August 2026.
7. HM Inspectorate of Probation is the independent inspector of youth justice and probation services across England and Wales. We report on the effectiveness of probation and youth justice service work with adults and children. We highlight good and poor practice and use our data and information to encourage high-quality services. We are independent of government and speak independently.
8. The Inspectorate typically uses a four-point scale: ‘Outstanding’, ‘Good’, ‘Requires improvement’ and ‘Inadequate’ for inspections, however, has opted out of one-word ratings for this inspection programme.
9. For media enquiries, please contact Head of Communications: media@hmiprobation.gov.uk

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